Analysis device and reagent container

ABSTRACT

An analysis device for particle analysis, configured in such a manner that a reagent container is set in the device by inserting the reagent container from a side surface of the device toward the inside thereof, the reagent container having, near the forward end thereof, a suction pipe entrance portion into which a suction pipe can enter. The analysis device is provided with: a reagent container holding portion which holds the reagent container inserted from the suction pipe entrance portion side; and the suction pipe which enters, from above, the suction pipe entrance portion of the reagent container held by the reagent container holding portion and which sucks a reagent within the reagent container. The reagent container holding portion includes a guide member for guiding the insertion of the reagent container, which is inserted from the suction pipe entrance portion side, into the reagent container holding portion.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. Patent Application PublicationNo. 2012/0321513, filed on Aug. 23, 2012, which is a continuation ofPCT/JP2011/053102 filed on Feb. 15, 2011, which claims priority toJapanese Application Nos. 2010-041330 filed on Feb. 26, 2010,2010-145879 filed on Jun. 28, 2010, and 2010-214572 filed on Sep. 24,2010. The entire contents of these applications are incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an analysis device analyzing a sampleby sucking a reagent from a reagent container and a reagent containeremployed for the analysis device.

Description of the Background Art

In general, analyzers such as a biochemical analyzer, a hemocytometerand a urine particle analyzer, for example, are known as analyzersanalyzing samples such as blood and urine.

In the biochemical analyzer, the number of types of reagents employedfor analyzing a sample is remarkably large. If set positions for thereagents are decided for the respective types of the reagents in thiscase, it becomes necessary for the user to set the reagents afterconfirming the correspondence between the types of the reagents and theset positions one by one, and hence a set operation for the reagents iscomplicated.

Therefore, there is such a biochemical analyzer that the user canarbitrarily set any reagent on a vacant position of a reagent box, as abiochemical analyzer described in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No.2000-321283, for example. The biochemical analyzer described in theaforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-321283 is configuredto rotate a reagent box thereby arranging a reagent container of aprescribed type, which has been set by the user on an arbitraryposition, on a dispensation position where a suction pipe is capable ofdispensing the reagent so that the suction pipe can dispense the reagentfrom the reagent container of the prescribed type.

In a particle analyzer such as a hemocytometer or a urine particleanalyzer, on the other hand, the number of measurement items is not solarge as that of the biochemical analyzer, while the number of types ofused reagents is also small. While a stain solution for specificallystaining particles (cells) of a specific type is employed as a reagent,there is an apprehension that a carryover is caused when dispensation isperformed by employing a common suction pipe in a case where there are aplurality of types of such stain solutions. Therefore, set positions forreagent containers are predetermined in response to the types ofreagents, and each reagent container is configured to be fluidlyconnected with a prescribed portion of the analyzer. As a reagentcontainer storing a reagent used in such an analyzer, there is a flatbaggy reagent container as described in Pamphlet of International PatentLaying-Open No. 2009/104598, for example. Such a reagent container isfluidly connected with the prescribed portion of the analyzer by aflexible tube, for example, and employed.

When the user tries to set a reagent container such as that described inthe aforementioned Pamphlet of International Patent Laying-Open No.2009/104598 on an analyzer, however, it becomes necessary to detach alid of the baggy reagent container and to insert a tube connected to theanalyzer into the reagent container, and it has been accompanied by acomplicated manual operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An analysis device according to a first aspect of the present inventionis an analysis device for particle analysis, to which a reagentcontainer is inserted from a side surface of the device and set, thereagent container having a suction pipe entrance portion into which asuction pipe is enterable in the vicinity of a forward end, and includesa reagent container holding portion configured to hold the reagentcontainer inserted from the suction pipe entrance portion side and thesuction pipe for sucking a reagent in the reagent container by enteringthe suction pipe entrance portion of the reagent container held by thereagent container holding portion from above, while the reagentcontainer holding portion includes a guide member guiding the insertionof the reagent container inserted from the suction pipe entrance portionside into the reagent container holding portion.

A reagent container according to a second aspect of the presentinvention is a reagent container set on an analysis device by beinginserted into the device from a side surface of the device, and has asuction pipe entrance portion into which a suction pipe of the analysisdevice is enterable from above in the vicinity of a forward end in adirection inserted into the analysis device.

An analysis device according to a third aspect of the present inventionincludes a reagent container holding portion for holding a reagentcontainer, a suction pipe for sucking a reagent from the reagentcontainer held by the reagent container holding portion, a suction pipemoving mechanism advancing the suction pipe into the reagent containerheld by the reagent container holding portion and retreating the suctionpipe out of the reagent container and a withdrawal prevention membermovable to a withdrawal position allowing withdrawal of the reagentcontainer from the reagent container holding portion and a withdrawalprevention position preventing withdrawal of the reagent container fromthe reagent container holding portion, while the suction pipe movingmechanism is configured to move the suction pipe in association withmovement of the withdrawal prevention member, and so configured that thesuction pipe enters the reagent container held by the reagent containerholding portion when the withdrawal prevention member moves to thewithdrawal prevention position and the suction pipe retreats out of thereagent container when the withdrawal prevention member moves to thewithdrawal position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a blood analysis system including afirst measurement unit and a second measurement unit according to afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the bloodanalysis system including the first measurement unit and the secondmeasurement unit according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the secondmeasurement unit according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a reagent container holder of thesecond measurement unit according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.2;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view showing the reagent container holdershown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for illustrating a reagent containerholding portion of the reagent container holder shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state where a reagent containeris placed on the reagent container holding portion shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the state where the reagentcontainer is placed on the reagent container holding portion shown inFIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing theinternal structure of the reagent container holder shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 a diagram for illustrating a set state of the reagent containerin the longitudinal sectional view of the reagent container holder shownin FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a diagram for illustrating a state lowering a cover in thelongitudinal sectional view of the reagent container holder shown inFIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a large-sized reagent containeraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view showing the large-sized reagent containeraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the large-sized reagentcontainer according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a small-sized reagent containeraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view showing the small-sized reagent containeraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the small-sized reagentcontainer according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the small-sized reagent containeraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention taken alongthe line 400-400 in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a statewhere a cover of a reagent container holder of a second measurement unitaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention is opened;

FIG. 20 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a statewhere the cover of the reagent container holder of the secondmeasurement unit according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention is closed;

FIG. 21 is a side elevational view showing a piercer raising/loweringmechanism of the reagent container holder of the second measurement unitaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a plan view observing the piercer raising/lowering mechanismof FIG. 21 from above;

FIG. 23 is a diagram for illustrating a state where a support portion ofthe reagent container holder is arranged on a set position in thesectional view of FIG. 19;

FIG. 24 is a diagram for illustrating an opening/closing operation forthe cover of the reagent container holder in the sectional view of FIG.19;

FIG. 25 is a diagram for illustrating a state where the piercer of thereagent container holder is arranged on a lowered position in thesectional view of FIG. 19;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view for illustrating a reagent containerholding portion of a reagent container holder of a second measurementunit according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram showing a reagent container holdingportion, for a large-sized reagent container, of the reagent containerholder shown in FIG. 26; and

FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram showing a reagent container holdingportion, for a small-sized reagent container, of the reagent containerholder shown in FIG. 26.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention are now described on the basis ofthe drawings.

First Embodiment

First, the overall structure of a blood analysis system 1 according to afirst embodiment of the present invention is described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 18. In the first embodiment, a case of applying the presentinvention to a measurement unit of a blood analysis system(hemocytometer), which is an example of an analysis device, isdescribed. Further, a case of applying the present invention to areagent container employed for the measurement unit is described as anexample of a reagent container according to the present invention.

The blood analysis system 1 according to the first embodiment includestwo measurement units of a first measurement unit 3 arranged on an arrowX2 direction side and a second measurement unit 2 arranged on an arrowX1 direction side, a sample transport device (sampler) 4 arranged on afront surface side (arrow Y1 direction side) of the first measurementunit 3 and the second measurement unit 2, and a control device 5consisting of a PC (personal computer) electrically connected to thefirst measurement unit 3, the second measurement unit 2 and the sampletransport device 4, as shown in FIG. 1. The blood analysis system 1 isconnected to a host computer 6 (see FIG. 2) by the control device 5.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first measurement unit 3 and the secondmeasurement unit 2 are measurement units of substantially identicaltypes, and arranged adjacently to each other. More specifically, thesecond measurement unit 2 uses the same measurement principle as thefirst measurement unit 3 and measures samples as to the same measurementitems. Further, the second measurement unit 2 measures the samples alsoas to measurement items not analyzed by the first measurement unit 3. Asshown in FIG. 2, the second measurement unit 2 and the first measurementunit 3 include sample suction portions 21 and 31 sucking blood which issamples from sample containers (test tubes) 100, specimen preparationportions 22 and 32 preparing detection specimens from the blood suckedby the sample suction portions 21 and 31, and detection portions 23 and33 detecting blood cells of the blood from the detection specimensprepared by the specimen preparation portions 22 and 33 respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second measurement unit 2 and the firstmeasurement unit 3 further include unit covers 24 and 34 storing thesample suction portions 21 and 31, the specimen preparation portions 22and 32 and the like therein, sample container transport portions 25 and35 incorporating the sample containers 100 into the unit covers 24 and34 and transporting the sample containers 100 to suction positions 600and 700 by the sample suction portions 21 and 31, and fixing/holdingportions 26 and 36 fixing/holding the sample containers 100 on thesuction positions 600 and 700 respectively. The first measurement unit 3and the second measurement unit 2 are the measurement units ofsubstantially identical types as described above, and hence the secondmeasurement unit 2 is described in the following, while description isomitted as to the first measurement unit 3.

The sample suction portion 21 includes a piercer 21 a, which is such asuction pipe that reagents pass therethrough, and a determinationportion 21 b, as shown in FIG. 3. The piercer 21 a is so formed that theforward end is capable of penetrating (puncturing) a closing lid 100 aof each sample container 100. Further, the piercer 21 a is moved by anunshown piercer driving portion in the vertical direction (direction Z),and formed to be movable up to reaction chambers 22 a described later.The determination portion 21 b consists of a syringe pump or the like,and has a function of sucking prescribed quantities of samples from thesample containers 100 and discharging the same through the piercer 21 a.Thus, the sample suction portion 21 is so formed that the prescribedquantities of samples necessary for sample measurement are sucked fromthe sample containers 100 and the sucked samples are supplied to thereaction chambers 22 a.

As shown in FIG. 2, the detection portion 23 includes a measurementportion (not shown) performing RBC detection (detection of red bloodcells) and PLT detection (detection of platelets) by sheath flow DCdetection and performing HGB detection (detection of hemoglobin inblood) by the SLS-hemoglobin method. Further, the detection portion 23includes an FCM measurement portion 23 a performing WBC detection(detection of white blood cells) by flow cytometry using a semiconductorlaser, as shown in FIG. 3. Results of detection obtained by thedetection portion 23 are transmitted to the control device 5 asmeasurement data (measurement results) of the samples.

As shown in FIG. 3, the specimen preparation portion 22 of the secondmeasurement unit 2 includes the reaction chambers 22 a and a reagentsupply portion 22 b connected to the reaction chambers 22 a. Thereaction chambers 22 a are formed to mix and react samples (blood)sucked by the sample suction portion 21 and reagents supplied from thereagent supply portion 22 b with each other. The reaction chambers 22 aare plurally provided in response to measurement types. A plurality oftypes of reagents (stain solutions etc.) responsive to measurement itemsare supplied to each reaction chamber 22 a, so that test specimensresponsive to various types of measurement items are prepared throughmixing and reaction processes of the samples and the reagents. Eachreaction chamber 22 a is so formed that the prepared test specimens aresupplied to the FCM measurement portion 23 a.

According to the first embodiment, the reagent supply portion 22 b isprovided in the unit cover 24, and holds a plurality of reagentcontainers 200 (see FIG. 7) or 300 (see FIG. 8) storing prescribedquantities of reagents. The reagent supply portion 22 b includes areagent container holder 60 sucking the reagents in the reagentcontainers 200 (or 300), a determination portion 22 c consisting of asyringe pump and a diaphragm pump etc. and electromagnetic valves 22 dand 22 e performing opening/closing of a passage at a time oftransferring the sucked reagents to the determination portion 22 c andthe reaction chambers 22 a. Further, the reagent supply portion 22 bincludes a determination portion 22 f and electromagnetic valves 22 gand 22 h for transferring a reagent (hemolytic agent or the like) from alarge-volume reagent container 110 arranged outside the measurementunit, in addition to the reagent containers 200 (or 300) held by thereagent container holder 60. The reagent containers 200 and 300 aredescribed later in detail.

As shown in FIG. 1, an openable/closable front surface cover 24 a isprovided on a front surface side of the unit cover 24. The reagentcontainer holder 60 is arranged on a front surface upper portion of thesecond measurement unit 2, and exposed outward by opening the frontsurface cover 24 a. Thus, the user can easily exchange the reagentcontainers 200 and 300. An openable/closable front surface cover 34 a isalso provided on a front surface side of the unit cover 34 of the firstmeasurement unit 3. Similarly, a reagent container holder 60 is arrangedon a front surface upper portion of the first measurement unit 3, andexposed outward by opening the front surface cover 34 a.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each reagent container holder 60 includesfive holder portions 60 a, 60 b, 60 c, 60 d and 60 e, and is formed tohold five (five types of) reagent containers 200 (or 300) in total. Thereagent containers 200 (or 300) held by the reagent container holder 60store reagents (stain solutions), for measuring a plurality ofmeasurement items with the FCM measurement portion 23 a, of typesdifferent from each other respectively. The color of the reagentcontainers is black. While the reagent containers 200 (see FIG. 12) of alarge size (about 100 mL) and the reagent containers 300 (see FIG. 15)of a small size (about 20 mL) are employed as the reagent containers inresponse to the types of the reagents, each of the holder portions 60 ato 60 e is formed to be capable of holding any of the reagent containers200 or 300. Therefore, the five holder portions 60 a to 60 e havesimilar structures respectively, and the large-sized reagent containers200 are set on the three holder portions 60 a to 60 c while thesmall-sized reagent containers 300 (not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) are seton the two holder portions 60 d and 60 e, for example. The holderportions 60 a to 60 e include chassis 61, reagent container holdingportions 62, covers 63 for opening/closing the reagent container holdingportions 62, the aforementioned piercers 64 and, piercerraising/lowering mechanisms 65 respectively.

The reagent container holding portions 62 are provided under the chassis61 (see FIG. 5). Each reagent container holding portion 62 has a heightH (see FIG. 5), and includes a first acceptance portion 621 having awidth W11, an intermediate acceptance portion 622, continuous with thefirst acceptance portion 621, spreading from the first acceptanceportion 621 at a prescribed angle θ2, and a second acceptance portion623 continuous with the intermediate acceptance portion 622, as shown inFIG. 6. The first acceptance portion 621 is capable of accepting a firststorage portion 210 (310), described later, of each reagent container200 (300), and has a width (width W11) inhibiting entrance of thefinger(s) of the user, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The finger(s) denotesthe finger(s) of an adult having an average thickness, and the width W11is 10 mm in the first embodiment. The second acceptance portion 623 hasa width W12 larger than the width W11. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, thefirst acceptance portion 621 is arranged on the innermost side (arrow Y2direction side) of the reagent container holding portion 62. Eachreagent container 200 (300) is inserted from the side of an entranceportion 212 (312), described later, of the first storage portion 210(310) toward an inner back side of the reagent container holding portion62. Therefore, the reagent container holding portion 62 is formed tohold the reagent container 200 (300) in a state where the same is soinserted that the entrance portion 212 (312) of the reagent container200 (300) is on the innermost side (arrow Y2 direction side).

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, each reagent container holding portion 62includes a pair of guide members 627 guiding both side surfaces 214(314) of the first storage portion 210 (310) of the reagent container200 (300) and leading the same to the first acceptance portion 621. Theguide members 627 include first guide portions 627 a guiding the firststorage portion 210 (310) of the reagent container 200 (300) to thefirst acceptance portion 621, intermediate guide portions 627 bcorresponding to the intermediate acceptance portion 622, and secondguide portions 627 c guiding a second storage portion 220 (320),described later, of the reagent container 200 (300) to the secondacceptance portion 623. The guide members 627 are formed by parts (bothinner side surfaces) of the corresponding chassis 61. The aforementionedfirst acceptance portion 621, the intermediate acceptance portion 622and the second acceptance portion 623 are formed by a space between thepair of first guide portions 627 a, a space between the pair ofintermediate guide portions 627 b and a space between the pair of secondguide portions 627 b corresponding thereto respectively. Therefore, thewidth W11 of the first acceptance portion 621 is equal to the width ofthe space between the pair of first guide portions 627 a, and the widthW12 of the second acceptance portion 623 is equal to the width of thespace between the pair of second guide portions 627 c.

The pair of guide members 627 have the height H (see FIG. 5)substantially equal to a height H1 (see FIGS. 14 and 17) of both sidesurfaces 214 (314) of the first storage portion 210 (310) of the reagentcontainer 200 (300), and are formed to be capable of guiding both sidesurfaces 214 (314) of the first storage portion 210 (310) of the reagentcontainer 200 (300) from lower ends up to upper ends respectively.Further, the pair of guide members 627 have shapes reflecting the outershape of the first storage portion 210 (310), and are formed to becapable of guiding the overall both side surfaces 214 (314) of the firststorage portion 210 (310) of the reagent container 200 (300). Theintermediate guide portions 627 b and the second guide portions 627 chave shapes reflecting the outer shape of each large-sized reagentcontainer 200, and are formed to be capable of guiding both sidesurfaces of a forward-end-side (first storage portion 210-side) half ofthe second storage portion 220. The second storage portion 220 of thislarge-sized reagent container 200 has a width W22 larger than the widthW21 of the first storage portion 210, while the first guide portions 627a are provided with the width W11 smaller than the width W22 of thesecond storage portion 220.

As shown in FIG. 9, each reagent container holding portion 62 includes asupport portion 624 holding each reagent container 200 (300) and arotation mechanism 625 rotatably supporting the support portion 624. Thesupport portion 624 is a platelike member integrally having a front sideportion 624 a coming into contact with the front surface of the reagentcontainer 200 (300) (front end surface of the first storage portion 210(310), see FIGS. 7 and 8) and a lower side portion 624 b coming intocontact with the lower surface of the reagent container 200 (300). Inother words, the support portion 624 is formed to have a shapecorresponding to the shape of the reagent container 200 (300). Therotation mechanism 625 is so formed that a protrusion 624 c provided onthe support portion 624 is inserted into an annular bearing 625 aprovided on the inner side surface of the chassis 61 to be capable ofrotating the support portion 624 on the position, serving as a rotationcenter, of the protrusion 624 c (bearing 625 a).

A locking portion 626 locking the rotating support portion 624 by cominginto contact with the front side portion 624 a of the support portion624 is provided in the chassis 61. The locking portion 626 is providedwith a magnet, and so formed that the locking portion 626 holds thefront side portion 624 a (support portion 624) in a state in contactwith the front side portion 624 a of the support portion 624. Thus, thesupport portion 624 is formed to move to a placed position P1 (see FIG.9) where the lower side portion 624 b is horizontal (the lower surfaceof the reagent container 200 (300) is horizontal) and a set position Q1(see FIG. 10) where the front side portion 624 a is perpendicular. Theentrance portion 212 (312) (see FIGS. 7 and 8), described later, of thereagent container 200 (300) is formed to be horizontal (orthogonal tothe corresponding piercer 64) in a state where the support portion 624is arranged on this set position Q1, as shown in FIG. 10.

Each cover 63 is arranged to protrude from each of the holder portions60 a to 60 e (chassis 61) toward the front side (arrow Y1 directionside), and mounted on the corresponding piercer raising/loweringmechanism 65, as shown in FIG. 9. The cover 63 is formed to be movableto a raised position P2 (see FIG. 10) opening the reagent containerholding portion 62 and a lowered position Q2 (see FIG. 11) covering(closing) the reagent container holding portion 62 due to this piercerraising/lowering mechanism 65. Therefore, the cover 63 is formed toallow introduction/withdrawal of the reagent container 200 (300) on theraised position P2 and to inhibit introduction/withdrawal of the reagentcontainer 200 (300) on the lowered position Q2.

As shown in FIG. 5, a window portion 631 consisting of an opening isprovided on a prescribed position of each cover 63. As shown in FIG. 11,the window portion 631 is so formed that the user can visually recognizea label 250 (350, see FIG. 15) stuck to the reagent container 200 (300)through this window portion 631 in a state where the cover 63 is locatedon the lowered position Q2 covering (closing) the reagent containerholding portion 62. An indicator for identifying the type of the reagentcontainer 200 (300) (the type of the reagent) is printed on a positionof the label 250 (350) visually recognizable through the window portion631. A label 632, on which an indicator for identifying the type of thereagent container 200 (300) (the type of the reagent) set on the reagentcontainer holding portion 62 is printed, is stuck to the cover 63. Inother words, reagent containers 200 (300) storing determined types ofreagents are set on the five holder portions 60 a to 60 e respectively,and hence labels 632 for identifying the types of the reagents to be setare stuck to the covers 63 of the respective holder portions 60 a to 60e in correspondence thereto. Thus, the second measurement unit 2 is soformed that it is possible to confirm whether or not correct reagentsare set on the respective holder portions 60 a to 60 e from the labels632 provided on the covers 63 and the labels 250 (350) visuallyrecognized through the window portions 631 in a state setting thereagent containers 200 (300) on the reagent container holding portions62 (state lowering the covers 63 to the lowered positions Q2).

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, each piercer 64 is arranged on a positionabove the innermost portion (arrow Y2 direction side) of the firstacceptance portion 621 of the corresponding reagent container holdingportion 62, and formed to be moved in the vertical direction (directionZ) by the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 65 holding the piercer 64.Thus, the piercer 64 is formed to enter the first storage portion 210(310) through the entrance portion 212 (312) of the reagent container200 (300) inserted into the inner back side of the reagent containerholding portion 62 and to be capable of sucking the reagent in thereagent container 200 (300). Further, the piercer 64 is so formed thatthe forward end is capable of penetrating (puncturing) a sealing member213 (313) for sealing an opening 212 a (312 a) (see FIGS. 7 and 8)formed in the entrance portion 212 (312) of the reagent container 200(300). As shown in FIG. 3, the upper end of the piercer 64 is connectedwith the passage (illustration is omitted in FIGS. 9 to 11) reaching thedetermination portion 22 c and the reaction chambers 22 a.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 65is formed to hold the piercer 64 and the cover 63. Further, the piercerraising/lowering mechanism 65 engages with groove portions 611 and 612provided on the chassis 61 in the vertical direction (direction Z).Thus, the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 65 is formed to integrallymove the piercer 64 in the vertical direction (direction Z) inassociation with opening/closing (raising/lowering movement) of thecover 63. In a state where the cover 63 is arranged on the raisedposition P2, the piercer 64 is arranged on a raised position P3 abovethe reagent container holding portion 62 (outside the reagent container200 (300) and the first acceptance portion 621), as shown in FIG. 10. Ina state where the cover 63 is arranged on the lowered position Q2, thepiercer 64 is formed to be arranged on a lowered position Q3 approachingan inner bottom portion immediately under the entrance portion 212 (312)of the reagent container 200 (300), as shown in FIG. 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the determination portion 22 c is formed to becapable of sucking a prescribed quantity of reagent in each reagentcontainer 200 (300) into the determination portion 22 c by opening theelectromagnetic valve 22 d while closing the electromagnetic valve 22 ein a state (see FIG. 11) arranging the piercer 64 on the loweredposition Q3 in the reagent container 200 (300). Thus, the prescribedquantity of reagent necessary for preparation of a test specimen isdetermined. Further, the determination portion 22 c is formed to becapable of transferring the reagent determined in the determinationportion 22 c to the reaction chambers 22 a by closing theelectromagnetic valve 22 d while opening the electromagnetic valve 22 e.

The determination portion 22 f and the electromagnetic valves 22 g and22 h connected with the large-volume reagent container 110 arrangedoutside are also similar, and the second measurement unit 2 is so formedthat operations of these respective portions are so controlled thatvarious types of reagents are transferred into the reaction chambers 22a. A waste liquid chamber 27 for disposing already measured (alreadyprepared) specimens is provided in the second measurement unit 2, andthe second measurement unit 2 is so formed that disposal of the alreadymeasured (already prepared) specimens is performed by opening/closingthe electromagnetic valve 27 a.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sample container transport portion 25 is formedto be linearly movable in the vertical direction (arrow Z1 and Z2directions). The sample container transport portion 25 has a handportion 25 a capable of grasping each sample container 100, a samplecontainer transfer portion 25 b horizontally moving the sample container100 in arrow Y1 and Y2 directions, and a bar coder read portion 25 c.

The hand portion 25 a is arranged above a transport path of each rack101 transported by the sample transport device 4. Further, the handportion 25 a is formed to grasp the sample container 100 stored in therack 101 after moving downward (arrow Z2 direction) when the samplecontainer 100 is transported by the sample transport device 4 to aprescribed incorporation position 43 b.

The hand portion 25 a is capable of stirring blood in the grasped samplecontainer 100. Further, the hand portion 25 a is formed to set thesample container 100 on a sample set portion 25 d moved to a sample setposition 610 by the sample container transfer portion 25 b aftertermination of stirring. As shown in FIG. 2, the incorporation position43 b and the sample set position 610 are arranged to overlap with eachother in plan view.

The sample container transfer portion 25 b has the sample set portion 25d, and is capable of moving the sample set portion 25 d to a prescribedposition responsive to an operation of measurement processing. Morespecifically, the sample container transfer portion 25 b is capable ofarranging the sample set portion 25 d on the suction position 600 shownin FIG. 2 and the sample set position 610. Further, the sample containertransfer portion 25 b is formed to be capable of moving up to aprescribed position outside the unit cover 24 as shown in FIG. 1, sothat the user manually sets the sample container 100 in a case ofperforming measurement of an emergency sample or a case of not using thesample transport device 4.

The bar code read portion 25 c is formed to read a bar code (not shown)stuck to each sample container 100. The bar code (not shown) of eachsample container 100 is specifically provided to each sample, and usedfor management or the like of analytical results of each sample.

The fixing/holding portion 26 is formed to fix/hold the sample container100 transferred to the suction position 600. More specifically, thefixing/holding portion 26 has a pair of chuck portions 26 a as shown inFIG. 2, and is so formed that the pair of chuck portions 26 a mutuallyapproach/move to hold the sample container 100.

The reagent containers 200 and 300 employed for the second measurementunit 2 and the first measurement unit 3 according to the firstembodiment and set on the reagent container holders 60 are now describedin detail.

According to the first embodiment, each reagent container 200 having thelarge size (capacity: about 100 mL) and each reagent container 300having the small size (capacity: about 20 mL) are formed to be employedcorrespondingly to the types of the stored reagents, as shown in FIGS.12 and 15. Each of the reagent containers 200 and 300 integrallyincludes the first storage portion 210 (310) provided on an upperportion with the entrance portion 212 (312) where the piercer 64 isenterable and the second storage portion 220 (320) continuous with thefirst storage portion 210 (310). The first storage portion 210 (310) isformed to be arranged in the first acceptance portion 621 in a statewhere the reagent container 200 (300) is set on the reagent containerholding portion 62, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The second storageportion 220 (320) is formed to be arranged outside the first acceptanceportion 621 in the state where the reagent container 200 (300) is set onthe reagent container holding portion 62, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Asshown in FIGS. 14 and 17, a first reagent storage space 211 (311) isprovided in each first storage portion 210 (310), while a second reagentstorage space 221 (321) continuous with the first reagent storage space211 (311) is provided in each second storage portion 220 (320).

The first storage portion 210 (310) is a portion having a length L11,and this shape is substantially common in the reagent containers 200 and300. The shapes of the first storage portions 210 and 310 aresubstantially common, and hence the reagent containers 200 and 300 aresettable with respect to the reagent container holding portions 62(first acceptance portions 621) of the holder portions 60 a to 60 ehaving the same shapes respectively.

More specifically, each first storage portion 210 (310) has the constantwidth W21 slightly smaller than the width W11 of the first acceptanceportion 621, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In the first storage portion 210(310), the entrance portion 212 (312) is provided on an end portion ofthe front side (direction where the first storage portion 210 (310) isinserted into the reagent container holding portion 62, the arrow Y2direction in FIGS. 7 and 8). Therefore, the reagent container 200 (300)is formed to be inserted from the side of the entrance portion 212 (312)of the first storage portion 210 (310) toward the inner back side of thereagent container holding portion 62. This entrance portion 212 (312) isprovided to protrude upward from an outer upper surface 200 b (300 b),as shown in FIGS. 14 and 17. The opening 212 a (312 a) communicatingwith the interior of the first storage portion 210 (310) is formed inthe protruding entrance portion 212 (312), as shown in FIGS. 12 and 15.The sealing member 213 (313) made of aluminum foil or the like isprovided on the entrance portion 212 (312) to block the opening 212 a(312 a), and so formed that the reagent container 200 (300) is sealed.The outer diameter of the entrance portion 212 (312) is equal to thewidth W21 of the first storage portion 210 (310), and the entranceportion 212 (312) is formed to protrude continuously (flushly) from afront-side surface of the first storage portion 210 (310).

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 17, the reagent container 200 (300) is soformed that an inner bottom surface 200 a (300 a) is unparallel to theouter upper surface 200 b (300 b) and the distance between the innerbottom surface 200 a (300 a) and the outer upper surface 200 b (300 b)enlarges as approaching the entrance portion 212 (312). According to thefirst embodiment, the reagent container 200 (300) is so formed that theinner bottom surface 200 a (300 a) becomes an inclining surfaceinclining by an angle θ1 (about 10 degrees) with respect to the outerupper surface 200 b (300 b). A bottom portion 200 c (300 c)substantially parallel to the outer upper surface 200 b (300 b) ispresent on a bottom surface portion of the reagent container 200 (300)immediately under the entrance portion 212 (312), and an incliningsurface 200 d (300 d) starts from an end portion of the bottom portion200 c (300 c). Thus, the reagent container 200 (300) is so formed thatthe entrance portion 212 (312) is positioned uppermost while the bottomportion 200 c (300 c) immediately under the entrance portion 212 (312)is positioned lowermost in the state set on the set position Q1 shown inFIG. 10.

A protrusion 230 (330) protruding upward (perpendicular direction withrespect to the outer upper surface 200 b (300 b)) is provided on theouter upper surface 200 b (300 b) of the reagent container 200 (300).The protrusion 230 (330) has a platelike shape of a length L1 extendingin the longitudinal direction of the reagent container 200 (300), and isformed to have a quantity of protrusion (protrusion height)substantially equal to that of the entrance portion 212 (312). Theprotrusion 230 (330) is provided on a position in the vicinity of an endportion of a rear side (arrow Y1 direction side in FIGS. 7 and 8) ofeach second storage portion 220 (320), and has a function as a handleportion so that a set operation or a removing operation of the reagentcontainer 200 (300) by the user can be easily performed.

On the other hand, shapes of the second storage portions 220 (320) varywith each reagent container 200 and each reagent container 300.

As shown in FIG. 13, the second storage portion 220 of each large-sizedreagent container 200 integrally includes a first portion 222,continuous with the first storage portion 210, whose width enlarges asseparating from the first storage portion 210, and a second portion 223having the constant width W22 larger than the width W21. Therefore, thesecond reagent storage space 221 in the second storage portion 220 is areagent storage space continuously provided over both of the firstportion 222 and the second portion 223 in the reagent container 200, asshown in FIG. 14.

As shown in FIG. 13, the first portion 222 is continuous with the secondportion 223 to expand the width of the first storage portion 210 at theangle 2 (about 60 degrees), and connects the first storage portion 210and the second portion 223 with each other. The second storage portion220 is so formed that the second portion 223 has the width W22 largerthan the width W21 so that the capacitance of the second reagent storagespace 221 can be ensured by about 100 mL.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the intermediate acceptance portion 622 ofthe reagent container holding portion 62 and the second acceptanceportion 623, continuous with the intermediate acceptance portion 622,having the width W12 have shapes corresponding to this first portion 222and the second portion 223 having the width W22 respectively.

As shown in FIG. 16, the second storage portion 320 of each small-sizedreagent container 300 has the width W21, which is constant and identicalto the width W21 of the first storage portion 310. In other words, thefirst storage portion 310 and the second storage portion 320 are formedto continuously linearly extend in the small-sized reagent container300. The length L22 of this second storage portion 320 is smaller thanthe length L21 of the second storage portion 220 of the large-sizedreagent container 200. The small-sized reagent container 300 is formedto have a reagent capacitance of about 20 mL as a whole by including thesecond storage portion 320 having the width W21 and the length L22smaller than those of the second storage portion 220 of the large-sizedreagent container 200.

As hereinabove described, the length L11 of the first storage portion310 is common in the reagent containers 200 and 300, to be set on thefirst acceptance portion 621. As to the small-sized reagent container300 in which the first storage portion 310 and the second storageportion 320 are continuous with each other in the same width W21 asshown in FIG. 8, therefore, a region stored in this first acceptanceportion 621 is the first storage portion 310, and a region arrangedoutside the first acceptance portion 621 is the second storage portion320.

In the small-sized reagent container 300, a recess portion 340 linearlyextending along the longitudinal direction of the reagent container 300is provided on the inclining surface 300 d of the outer bottom surface,dissimilarly to the large-sized reagent container 200. In a case ofsetting the inclining surface 300 d on a horizontal plane, an outerperipheral portion of the recess portion 340 becomes a point of contactin contact with the horizontal plane due to this recess portion 340,whereby it is possible to stably upright the reagent container 300having the small width W21 as well.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 15, the label 250 (350), on which the name ofthe stored reagent, the lot number of the reagent, the expiration dateand an identification bar code etc. are printed, is stuck to eachreagent container 200 (300). This label 250 (350) is stuck over the rearsurface of each reagent container 200 (300) and at least one lateralside surface. Further, coloring indicating the type of the storedreagent is applied to part (portion corresponding to the rear surface ofeach reagent container 200 (300)) or the whole of the label 250 (350),and the reagent container 200 (300) is so formed that it is possible toidentify the type of the reagent through the color displayed on thelabel 250 (350). It is possible to confirm whether or not the reagentcontainer 200 (300) has been set on the correct one of the holderportions 60 a to 60 e, depending on whether the colors of the respectiveones of this label 250 (350) and the label 632 (see FIG. 5) stuck to thecover 63 of the reagent container holder 60 coincide with each other.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sample transport device 4 includes apre-analysis rack holding portion 41 capable of holding a plurality ofracks 101 in which sample containers 100 storing samples beforeperformance of analysis, a post-analysis rack holding portion 42 capableof holding a plurality of racks 101 in which sample containers 100storing samples after performance of analysis, a rack transport portion43 horizontally linearly moving the racks 101 in arrow X1 and X2directions, a bar code read portion 44, a presence/absence detectionsensor 45 sensing the presence or absence of the sample containers 100,and a rack delivery portion 46 moving the racks 101 into thepost-analysis rack holding portion 42.

The pre-analysis rack holding portion 41 has a rack feeding portion 411,and is so formed that the rack feeding portion 411 moves in the arrow Y2direction thereby pushing out the racks 101 held by the pre-analysisrack holding portion 41 one by one onto the rack transport portion 43.

The rack transport portion 43 is formed to arrange prescribed samplecontainers 100 held on the racks on an incorporation position 43 a wherethe first measurement unit 3 incorporates samples and the incorporationposition 43 b where the second measurement unit 2 incorporates samplesby transporting the racks 101, as shown in FIG. 2. Further, the racktransport portion 43 is formed to be capable of transporting the samplecontainers 100 to a sample presence/absence detection position 43 cwhere the presence/absence detection sensor 45 confirms the presence orabsence of the sample containers 100 and a read position 43 d where thebar code read portion 44 reads the bar codes (not shown) (see FIG. 4) ofthe sample containers 100.

The rack delivery portion 46 is arranged to be opposed to thepost-analysis rack holding portion 42 through the rack transport portion43, and formed to horizontally move in the arrow Y1 direction. Further,the rack delivery portion 46 is formed to push out each rack 101arranged on a position held between the post-analysis rack holdingportion 42 of the rack transport portion 43 and the rack deliveryportion 46 to the side of the post-analysis rack holding portion 42 byhorizontally moving in the arrow Y1 direction.

The control device 5 consists of a personal computer (PC) or the like,and is mainly constituted of a control portion 51 (see FIG. 2)consisting of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and the like, a display portion 52 andan input device 53, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The display portion 52 isprovided for displaying analytical results or the like obtained byanalyzing data of digital signals transmitted from the first measurementunit 3 and the second measurement unit 2.

The control portion 51 includes the CPU, the ROM, the RAM, a hard disk,an input/output interface and a communication interface etc., and theCPU so runs application programs that the computer functions as thecontrol device 5. Thus, the control device 5 is so formed thatoperations of respective portions of the first measurement unit 3, thesecond measurement unit 2 and the sample transport device 4 arecontrolled by the control portion 51. A measurement result database isalso installed in the hard disk of the control portion 51.

The control portion 51 is formed to analyze components of analyticalobjects by employing measurement results transmitted from the firstmeasurement unit 3 and the second measurement unit 2 and to acquireanalytical results (the number of red blood cells, the number ofplatelets, the quantity of hemoglobin, the number of white blood cellsetc.).

An operation of setting each reagent container 200 on the reagentcontainer holder 60 (holder portion 60 a) of each of the firstmeasurement unit 3 and the second measurement unit 2 according to thepresent invention is now described with reference to FIGS. 7, 9 to 11and 14. Set operations are similar to each other in the reagentcontainers 200 and 300, and hence only the set operation for the reagentcontainer 200 is described, while the set operation for the reagentcontainer 300 is omitted. Similarly, only the set operation for thereagent container 200 onto the holder portion 60 a is described, and setoperations onto the remaining holder portions 60 b to 60 e are omitted.

First, the user opens the front surface cover 24 a (see FIG. 1),arranges the cover 63 on the raised position P2 (see FIG. 9), and opensthe reagent container holding portion 62. Then, the user arranges thesupport portion 624 of the holder portion 60 a on the placed position P1(see FIG. 9) where the lower side portion 624 b is horizontal. As thecover 63 is arranged on the raised position P2, the correspondingpiercer 64 is arranged on the raised position P3 above the reagentcontainer holding portion 62.

Then, the user places the reagent container 200 on the support portion624. The reagent container 200 is so placed on the lower side portion624 b that an inclining portion (portion of the inclining surface 200 d)of the reagent container 200 is horizontal. At this time, the entranceportion 212 (opening 212 a) is arranged on the uppermost (arrow Z1direction) position (see FIG. 9) of the reagent container 200.

As shown in FIG. 9, the user advances the first storage portion 210 intothe first acceptance portion 621 until the front side (arrow Y2direction side) surface of the first storage portion 210 comes intocontact with the front side portion 624 a of the support portion 624. Atthis time, the first storage portion 210 is inserted into the firstacceptance portion 621, while overall both side surfaces 214 of thefirst storage portion 210 are guided along the pair of first guideportions 627 a reflecting the shape of the first storage portion 210.Further, the second storage portion 220 is guided by the second guideportions 627 c. Therefore, the finger(s) of the user is prevented fromentering the inner back side of the reagent container holding portion 62from a space between the reagent container 200 (respective side surfacesof the first storage portion 210 and the second storage portion 220) andthe guide member 627 (the first guide portions 627 a and the secondguide portions 627 c) in the insertion of the reagent container 200.Thus, the finger(s) of the user avoids touching the piercer 64 arrangedon the raised position P3 outside (above) the reagent container holdingportion 62.

Then, the user pushes the lower side portion 624 b of the supportportion 624 upward, and rotates the support portion 624 until the frontside portion 624 a comes into contact with the locking portion 626. Whenthe front side portion 624 a comes into contact with the locking portion626, the support portion 624 is held on the set position Q1 where thefront side portion 624 a is perpendicular due to the magnet of thelocking portion 626, as shown in FIG. 10. At this time, the reagentcontainer 200 in the reagent container holding portion 62 is held in astate where the entrance portion 212 (opening 212 a) and the outer uppersurface 200 b are horizontal, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10.

Thereafter the user moves (lowers) the cover 63 of the holder portion 60a from the raised position P2 to the lowered position Q2, as shown inFIG. 11. The piercer 64 also lowers following this, whereby the piercer64 passes through the sealing member 213 sealing the opening 212 a(entrance portion 212) of the reagent container 200 and enters thereagent container 200 through the opening portion 212 a (entranceportion 212). When the cover 63 is arranged on the lowered position Q2by the user, the piercer 64 is arranged on the lowered position Q3 inthe vicinity of the bottom portion 200 c (see FIG. 14) in the reagentcontainer 200. Thus, it becomes possible to suck the reagent in thereagent container 200 through the piercer 64.

In this state, the user is enabled to visually recognize the label 250of the reagent container 200 from the window portion 631 of the cover63, whereby the user is enabled to confirm whether or not the correctreagent container 200 is set from the label 632 stuck to the cover 63and the label 250 of the reagent container 200.

Thus, the set operation for the reagent container 200 onto the reagentcontainer holder 60 (holder portion 60 a) terminates.

A measurement processing operation of the blood analysis system 1according to the first embodiment is now described with reference toFIGS. 2 and 3. Components of analytical objects are similarly measuredin the first measurement unit 3 and the second measurement unit 2respectively, and hence a case of measuring components of analyticalobjects with the second measurement unit 2 is described below, whiledescription of a measurement processing operation with the firstmeasurement unit 3 is omitted. Measurement processing operation controlof this second measurement unit 2 is performed by the control device 5.

First, the sample is sucked by the sample suction portion 21 from eachsample container 100 transported to the suction portion 600 (see FIG.2), while determined samples are supplied to the reaction chambers 22 aof the specimen preparation portion 22 respectively, as shown in FIG. 3.Then, detection specimens are prepared from the sucked sample by thespecimen preparation portion 22. More specifically, reagents containedin the five (five types of) reagent containers 200 (or 300) set on thereagent container holder 60 are supplied to prescribed reaction chambers22 a responsive to measurement items respectively, due to operations ofthe determination portion 22 c and the electromagnetic valve 22 d (22e). Further, the reagent (hemolytic agent or the like) stored in theexternal large-volume reagent container 110 is supplied to a prescribedreaction chamber 22 a, due to operations of the determination portion 22f and the electromagnetic valve 22 g (22 h). Then, the samples and thereagents are mixed with each other in the reaction chambers 22 a, andthe detection specimens are prepared through a reaction process.

Then, the components of the analytical objects are detected from thedetection specimens by the detection portion 23. The detection specimensprepared by employing the reagents stored in the aforementioned five(five types of) reagent containers 200 (or 300) are supplied to the FCMmeasurement portion 23 a, and measurement of various types ofmeasurement items by flow cytometry is performed. After termination ofthe measurement, the already measured detection specimens in thereaction chambers 22 a are discarded to the waste liquid chamber 27through the electromagnetic valve 27 a. Then, measurement data aretransmitted from the second measurement unit 2 to the control device 5.Thereafter the components of the analytical objects are analyzed by thecontrol portion 51 on the basis of measurement results transmitted fromthe second measurement unit 2. Thus, analysis of the samples iscompleted, and the operation is terminated.

According to the first embodiment, as hereinabove described, the reagentcontainer holding portions 62 holding the reagent containers 200 (300)inserted from the sides of the entrance portions 212 (312) in thevicinity of the forward ends and the piercers 64 entering the entranceportions 212 (312) of the reagent containers 200 (300) held by thereagent container holding portions 62 from above are provided while theguide members 627 guiding the insertion of the reagent containers 200(300) inserted from the sides of the entrance portions 212 (312) intothe reagent container holding portions 62 are provided on the reagentcontainer holding portions 62, whereby the piercers 64 can be advancedinto the reagent containers 200 (300) through the entrance portions 212(312) inserted into the inner back sides of the reagent containerholding portions 62. Therefore, the user can set the reagent containers200 (300) by simply grasping the reagent containers 200 (300) andinserting the same into the reagent container holding portions 62 fromthe sides of the entrance portions 212 (312) in the vicinity of theforward ends. Thus, the set operation for the reagent containers 200(300) can be simplified. Further, entrance of the piercers 64 into thereagent containers 200 (300) and retreat from the reagent containers 200(300) can be performed on the inner back sides of the reagent containerholding portions 62 into which the entrance portions 212 (312) areinserted, whereby the finger(s) of the user can avoid touching thepiercers 64 when setting the reagent containers 200 (300). In addition,the reagent containers 200 (300) are guided to the reagent containerholding portions 62 along the guide members 627, whereby the finger(s)of the user can avoid entering the inner back sides of the reagentcontainer holding portions 62 from the spaces between the reagentcontainers 200 (300) and the guide members 627 when setting the reagentcontainers 200 (300). Thus, the finger(s) of the user can more reliablyavoid touching the piercers 64.

According to the first embodiment, as hereinabove described, each guidemember 627 has the height dimension H substantially identical to atleast the height H1 of both side surfaces 214 (314) of the first storageportion 210 (310), and is formed to be capable of guiding both sidesurfaces 214 (314) of the first storage portion 210 (310) from the lowerends up to the upper ends respectively. When forming the secondmeasurement unit 2 (the first measurement unit 3) in this manner, theguide member 627 guides both side surfaces 214 (314) of the firststorage portion 210 (310) from the lower ends up to the upper ends,whereby the finger(s) of the user can avoid entering the inner back sideof each reagent container holding portion 62 from the upper ends up tothe lower ends of both side surfaces 214 (314) of the first storageportion 210 (310). Thus, the finger(s) of the user can more reliablyavoid touching the piercer 64.

According to the first embodiment, as hereinabove described, each guidemember 627 (first guide portion 627 a) has the shape reflecting theshape of at least the first storage portion 210 (310) of each reagentcontainer 200 (300), and is formed to be capable of guiding the whole ofboth side surfaces 210 (314) of the first storage portion 210 (310).When forming the second measurement unit 2 (the first measurement unit3) in this manner, the whole of both side surfaces 214 (314) of thefirst storage portion 210 (310) is guided along the guide member 627(first guide portion 627 a) having the shape reflecting the shape of thefirst storage portion 210 (310), whereby the finger(s) of the user canbe reliably prevented from entering the inner back side of each reagentcontainer holding portion 62 from the space between the respective onesof the first storage portion 210 (310) and the guide member 627 whensetting the reagent container 200 (300).

According to the first embodiment, as hereinabove described, each guidemember 627 includes the first guide portion 627 a guiding both sidesurfaces 214 (314) of the first storage portion 210 (310) and leadingthe first storage portion 210 (310) to the first acceptance portion 621and the second guide portions 627 c guiding the second storage portion220 to the second acceptance portion 623. When forming the secondmeasurement unit 2 (the first measurement unit 3) in this manner, thefirst storage portions 210 and 310 of the reagent containers 200 and 300and the second storage portion 220 of the reagent container 200 areguided along the first guide portion 627 a and the second guide portion627 c of the guide member 627 respectively, whereby the finger(s) of theuser can avoid entering the inner back side of the reagent containerholding portion 62 not only by the first guide portion 627 a of theguide member 627 but also by the second guide portion 627 c.

According to the first embodiment, as hereinabove described, each secondstorage portion 220 has the width W22 larger than the width W21 of thefirst storage portion 210, and the first guide portion 627 a is providedin the width W11 smaller than the width W22 of the second storageportion 220. When forming the second measurement unit 2 (the firstmeasurement unit 3) in this manner, the first storage portion 210inserted into the inner back side of the reagent container holdingportion 62 and the first guide portion 627 a guiding the first storageportion 210 both have the widths smaller than that of the second storageportion 220 of the reagent container 200, whereby the finger(s) of theuser hardly enters the inner back side of the reagent container holdingportion 62. Thus, the finger(s) of the user can further reliably avoidtouching the piercer 64 when setting each reagent container 200.

According to the first embodiment, as hereinabove described, each secondstorage portion 220 has the width W22 larger than the width W21 of thefirst storage portion 210, and the first guide portion 627 a is providedin the width W11 smaller than the width W22 of the second storageportion 220. When forming the second measurement unit 2 (the firstmeasurement unit 3) in this manner, the volume of the reagent storablein each reagent container can be enlarged also when the first guideportion 627 a has such a width that the finger(s) of the user hardlyenters the inner back side of the reagent container holding portion 62.

According to the first embodiment, as hereinabove described, each firstacceptance portion 621 has the width W11 inhibiting entrance of thefinger(s) of the user. When forming the second measurement unit 2 (thefirst measurement unit 3) in this manner, entrance of the finger(s) ofthe user into the first acceptance portion 621 accepting the firststorage portion 210 (310) into which the piercer 64 enters, whereby thefinger(s) of the user can reliably avoid touching the piercer 64 whensetting each reagent container 200 (300).

According to the first embodiment, as hereinabove described, eachreagent container holding portion 62 includes the support portion 624supporting the reagent container 200 (300) and the rotation mechanism625 moving the support portion 624 to the placed position P1 for placingthe reagent container 200 (300) on the support portion 624 and the setposition Q1 for arranging the reagent container 200 (300) on the supportportion on a position where the piercer 64 is enterable. When formingthe second measurement unit 2 (the first measurement unit 3) in thismanner, the user can set each reagent container 200 (300) on the reagentcontainer holding portion 624 by simply moving the support portion 624to the set position Q1 with the rotation mechanism 625, whereby he/shecan easily set the reagent container 200 (300) on the reagent containerholding portion 62, while the user may not insert the finger(s) (hand)into the inner back side of the reagent container holding portion 62.

According to the first embodiment, as hereinabove described, eachpiercer raising/lowering mechanism 65 is formed to move thecorresponding piercer 64 in association with opening/closing of thecover 63, and so formed that the piercer 64 retreats out of (to above)the first acceptance portion 621 when the cover 63 is arranged on theraised position P2 opening the reagent container holding portion 62.When forming the second measurement unit 2 (the first measurement unit3) in this manner, the piercer 64 retreats out of the first storageportion 210 (310) when moving the cover 63 to the raised position P2 forsetting the reagent container 200 (300), whereby the set operation forthe reagent container 200 (300) can be simplified. Further, thefinger(s) of the user can more reliably avoid touching the piercer 64when setting the reagent container 200 (300).

According to the first embodiment, as hereinabove described, each cover63 is formed to open and close the reagent container holding portion 62in association with movement of the piercer 64 by the piercerraising/lowering mechanism 65. When forming the second measurement unit2 (the first measurement unit 3) in this manner, movement of the piercer64 by the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 65 can be interlocked withthe cover 63 opening and closing the reagent container holding portion62 itself. Thus, the piercer 64 retreats out of the reagent container200 (300) when opening the cover 63 for setting the reagent container200 (300), whereby the finger(s) of the user can more reliably avoidtouching the piercer 64.

According to the first embodiment, as hereinabove described, theentrance portion 212 (312) of each reagent container 200 (300) is soprovided that the piercer 64 of the first measurement unit 3 (secondmeasurement unit 2) is enterable from above in the vicinity of theforward end in the direction inserted into the first measurement unit 3(second measurement unit 2). Thus, the piercer 64 of the firstmeasurement unit 3 (second measurement unit 2) can be advanced into thereagent container 200 (300) from above through the entrance portion 212(312) inserted into the inner back side of the first measurement unit 3(second measurement unit 2). Therefore, the user can set the reagentcontainer 200 (300) by simply grasping the reagent container 200 (300)and inserting the same into the first measurement unit 3 (secondmeasurement unit 2) from the side of the entrance portion 212 (312) onthe forward end, whereby the set operation for the reagent container 200(300) can be simplified. Further, the advancement of the piercer 64 intothe reagent container 200 (300) and the retreat from the reagentcontainer 200 (300) can be performed on the inner back side in theinsertional direction in the first measurement unit 3 (secondmeasurement unit 2), whereby the finger(s) of the user can avoidtouching the piercer 64 when setting the reagent container 200 (300).

According to the first embodiment, as hereinabove described, the innerbottom surface 200 a (300 a) of each reagent container 200 (300 a) isformed to be unparallel to the outer upper surface 200 b (300 b), whilethe reagent container 200 (300) is so formed that the distance betweenthe inner bottom surface 200 a (300 a) and the outer upper surface 200 b(300 b) enlarges as approaching the entrance portion 212 (312). Whenforming the blood analysis system 1 in this manner, the position of theinner bottom surface 200 a (300 a) immediately under the entranceportions 212 (312) most lowers in the reagent container 200 (300) whensetting the reagent container 200 (300) so that the outer upper surface200 b (300 b) is horizontal. Thus, the quantity of the reagent notsuckable by the piercer 64 but remaining in the reagent container 200(300) can be reduced.

According to the first embodiment, as hereinabove described, theentrance portion 212 (312) of each reagent container 200 (300) isprovided on an end portion of the first storage portion 210 (310) in thedirection (arrow Y2 direction in FIGS. 7 and 8) where the first storageportion 210 (310) is inserted into the reagent container holding portion62. When forming the reagent container 200 (300) in this manner, theentrance portion 212 (312) is arranged on the inner back of the firstacceptance portion 621 in the case of setting the reagent container 200(300) on the reagent container holding portion 62, whereby the piercer64 can also be arranged on the inner back of the first acceptanceportion 621 correspondingly to the position of the entrance portion 212(312). Thus, the finger(s) of the user can more reliably avoid touchingthe piercer 64.

According to the first embodiment, as hereinabove described, the secondstorage portion 220 of each reagent container 200 is constituted of thefirst portion 222, continuous with the first storage portion 210, whosewidth enlarges as separating from the first storage portion 210 and thesecond portion 223, continuous with the first portion 222, having theconstant width W22. When forming the reagent container 200 (300) in thismanner, the reagent stored in the side of the second portion 223 iscollected on the side of the entrance portion 212 through the firstportion 222 in a case of arranging each reagent container 200 on the setposition Q1 so that the position of the inner bottom surface 200 a(bottom portion 200 c) on the side of the entrance portion 212 lowers inthe reagent container 200, whereby the reagent in the reagent container200 does not remain on the side of the second storage portion 220.

According to the first embodiment, as hereinabove described, eachpiercer raising/lowering mechanism 65 is formed to move the piercer 64in association with opening/closing of the cover 63.Introduction/withdrawal of the reagent container 200 (300) into/from thereagent container holding portion 62 is allowed when the cover 63 movesto the raised position P2 opening the reagent container holding portion62, and introduction/withdrawal of the reagent container 200 (300)into/from the reagent container holding portion 62 is inhibited when thecover 63 moves to the lowered position Q2 closing the reagent containerholding portion 62. When forming the second measurement unit 2 (thefirst measurement unit 3) in this manner, the user can retreat thepiercer 64 out of the reagent container 200 (300) and can bring thereagent container 200 (300) into a state advanceable/withdrawableinto/from the reagent container holding portion 62 by simply moving thecover 63 to the raised position P2. After setting the reagent container200 (300) on the reagent container holding portion 62, the user caninhibit introduction/withdrawal of the reagent container 200 (300)into/from the reagent container holding portion 62 and can advance thepiercer 64 into the reagent container 200 (300) by simply moving thecover 63 to the lowered position Q2. Consequently, the user can renderthe reagent suckable from inside the reagent container 200 (300) byperforming the operations of the movement of the cover 63 to the raisedposition P2, the setting of the reagent container 200 (300) and themovement of the cover 63 to the lowered position Q2. Thus, the setoperation for the reagent container 200 (300) can be simplified withoutcomplicating the device structure.

In the first embodiment, such a case is also conceivable that a stainsolution is stored in any reagent container 200 (or 300) and the stainsolution adheres to the piercer 64. Therefore, the stain solution can beprevented from adhering to the finger(s) of the user by forming thesecond measurement unit 2 (the first measurement unit 3) so that thefinger(s) does not touch the piercer 64 as in the aforementioned firstembodiment.

According to the first embodiment, each reagent container holder 60includes the five holder portions 60 a, 60 b, 60 c, 60 d and 60 e, andis formed to hold five (five types of) reagent containers 200 (or 300)in total. Thus, as compared with such a structure that one suction pipesucks reagents from a large number of reagent containers, each piercer64 corresponds to each reagent container 200 (300) and hence a carryoverof the reagent can be prevented. In a case where the reagent is a stainsolution, a smear of the piercer 64 is hard to remove even by washing,and hence this is particularly preferable.

According to the first embodiment, the color of each reagent container200 (300) is black. Thus, the reagent in the reagent container 200 (300)can be prevented from deterioration resulting from external light. In acase where the reagent is a stain solution, deterioration resulting fromlight easily takes place, and hence this is particularly preferable.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the present invention is now described withreference to FIGS. 1, 6 and 19 to 25. This second embodiment is formedto interlock both of a piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850 and arotation mechanism 825 with opening/closing of each cover 830,dissimilarly to the aforementioned first embodiment formed to interlockeach piercer raising/lowering mechanism 65 with opening/closing of eachcover 63 and to manually move each support portion 624. Structures otherthan each reagent container holder 800 are similar to those of theaforementioned first embodiment, and hence description is omitted. Inthe second embodiment, an example of setting a reagent container 200 onthe reagent container holder 800 is described, and description as to acase of setting a reagent container 300 is omitted.

According to the second embodiment, each of holder portions 800 a to 800e of the reagent container holder 800 mainly includes a chassis 810, areagent container holding portion 820, the cover 830 for opening/closingthe reagent container holding portion 820, a piercer 840 and the piercerraising/lowering mechanism 850, as shown in FIG. 19.

The reagent container holding portion 820 includes a first acceptanceportion 621, an intermediate acceptance portion 622 and a secondacceptance portion 623 shown in FIG. 6. The structures of the firstacceptance portion 621, the intermediate acceptance portion 622 and thesecond acceptance portion 623 are similar to those of the aforementionedfirst embodiment, and hence signs identical to those of theaforementioned first embodiment are employed while description isomitted. Similarly, the reagent container holding portion 820 includes apair of guide members 627 guiding both side surfaces 214 (314) of afirst storage portion 210 (310) of each reagent container 200 (300) andleading the same to the first acceptance portion 621. The pair of guidemembers 627 have first guide portions 627 a guiding the first storageportion 210 (310) of the reagent container 200 (300) to the firstacceptance portion 621, intermediate guide portions 627 b correspondingto the intermediate acceptance portion 622 and second guide portions 627c guiding a second storage portion 220 (320) of the reagent container200 (300) to the second acceptance portion 623 respectively. Thestructures of these guide members 627 (the first guide portions 627 a,the intermediate guide portions 627 b and the second guide portions 627c) are similar to those of the aforementioned first embodiment, andhence signs identical to those in the aforementioned first embodimentare employed and description is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 19, the reagent container holding portion 820 includesa support portion 821 supporting the reagent container 200 and arotation mechanism 825 rotatably supporting the support portion 821.According to the second embodiment, the support portion 821 consists ofa platelike member integrally having a front side portion 822 cominginto contact with the front surface of the reagent container 200, alower side portion 823 coming into contact with the lower surface of thereagent container 200, a contact portion 824, and a rear side portion823 a. The front side portion 822 and the lower side portion 823 of thesupport portion 821 are formed to have shapes corresponding to the shapeof the reagent container 200. The rear side portion 823 a is a portionwhere the platelike member (support portion 821) is bent upward on therear end of the lower side portion 823. It becomes easy to set thereagent container 200 on a constant position on the support portion 821(lower side portion 823), due to this rear side portion 823 a.

The contact portion 824 of the support portion 821 is a site provided toextend from the upper end of the front side portion 822, and bent onbent portions 824 a and 824 b of two places. The contact portion 824 hasa function of limiting or allowing movement of the support portion 821from a placed position P11 to a set position Q11 (see FIG. 20) by cominginto contact with a roller 856 described later. Further, the contactportion 824 is formed to jackknife at an angle θ3 on the bent portion824 a, and to jackknife at an angle θ4 larger than the angle θ3 on thebent portion 824 b. A portion of the contact portion 824 between thebent portion 824 a and the bent portion 824 b and a portion on a forwardend side (arrow Y2 direction side) beyond the bent portion 824 b arelinearly (planarly) formed.

The rotation mechanism 825 is so formed that a protrusion 821 a providedon the support portion 821 is inserted into an annular bearing 826provided on an inner side surface of the chassis 810 to be capable ofrotating the support portion 821 on the position, serving as a rotationcenter, of the protrusion 821 a (bearing 826). According to the secondembodiment, the rotation mechanism 825 has a spring member 827 urgingthe support portion 821 to move to the set position Q11. The springmember 827 consists of a helical compression spring, and is so formedthat a lower end is fixed onto a spring set portion 811 provided on alower portion of the chassis 810 while an upper end comes into contactwith the lower surface of the lower side portion 823 of the supportportion 821. The spring member 827 is provided to enter a compressedstate in a state where the support portion 821 is arranged on the placedposition P11. The lower side portion 823 is pushed up due to repulsion(urging force) of this spring member 827, whereby the support portion821 is urged to move (rotate) to the set position Q11.

As shown in FIG. 19, the second embodiment is so formed that movement ofthe support portion 821 by the rotation mechanism 825 is performed inassociation with opening/closing (movement to a raised position P12 anda lowered position Q12 (see FIG. 20)) of the cover 830. In other words,the contact portion 824 and the roller 856 of the piercerraising/lowering mechanism 850 come into contact with each other andmovement of the contact portion 824 is limited in a case where the cover830 is opened (a case where the same is positioned on the raisedposition P12), whereby movement of the support portion 821 to the setposition Q11 by the rotation mechanism 825 is limited. In a case wherethe cover 830 is closed (a case where the same is positioned on thelowered position Q12) as shown in FIG. 20, on the other hand, thecontact between the contact portion 824 and the roller 856 is canceled,whereby movement of the support portion 821 to the set position Q11 isallowed.

A locking portion 812 locking the rotating portion 821 by coming intocontact with the front side portion 822 of the support portion 821 isprovided in the chassis 810. In a state where movement of the supportportion 821 to the set position?Q11 is allowed (a case where the cover830 is located on the lowered position Q12), therefore, the front sideportion 822 is pressed against the locking portion 812 due to the urgingforce of the spring member 827, so that the support portion 821 is heldon the set position Q11. In a case where the cover 830 lowers from theraised position P12 as shown in FIG. 23, therefore, the support portion821 is arranged on the set position Q11 at a point of time when theroller 856 of the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850 passes throughthe bent portion 824 a before the cover 830 reaches the lowered positionQ12. At the point of time when the support portion 821 is arranged onthe set position Q11, the piercer 840 is arranged on a positionimmediately in front of (in the vicinity of) an entrance portion 212 ofthe reagent container 200 set on the support portion 821.

The cover 830 is mounted on the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850,and formed to be movable to the raised position P12 opening the reagentcontainer holding portion 820 and the lowered position Q12 (see FIG. 20)covering (closing) the reagent container holding portion 820 with thispiercer raising/lowering mechanism 850, as shown in FIG. 19. The cover830 is formed to allow introduction/withdrawal of the reagent container200 (300) on the raised position P12 and to inhibitintroduction/withdrawal of the reagent container 200 (300) on thelowered position Q12. As shown in FIG. 20, the cover 830 is so formedthat the user can visually recognize a label 250 stuck to the reagentcontainer 200 through a window portion 831 in a state where the cover830 is located on the lowered position Q12. A label 832, on which anindicator for identifying the type of the reagent container 200 (thetype of the reagent) set on the reagent container holding portion 820 isprinted, is stuck to the cover 830.

According to the second embodiment, a cover grasp portion 833 isprovided to protrude frontward (arrow Y1 direction) on a front surfaceside (arrow Y1 direction side) of the cover 830. Thus, it becomespossible for the user to perform opening/closing (movement to the raisedposition P12 or the lowered position Q12) of the cover 830 by graspingthe cover grasp portion 833.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 19, the piercer 840 is arranged on a positionabove the innermost portion (arrow Y2 direction side) of the firstacceptance portion 821 of the reagent container holding portion 820, andformed to be moved in the vertical direction (direction Z) by thepiercer raising/lowering mechanism 850. Thus, the piercer 840 enters thefirst storage portion 210 (310) through an entrance portion 212 (312) ofthe reagent container 200 (300) inserted into an inner back side of thereagent container holding portion 820, and is formed to be capable ofsucking the reagent in the reagent container 200 (300). According to thesecond embodiment, the piercer 840 is held in a state fixed to an axialcenter (see FIG. 22) of a cylindrical piercer holding portion 841.

The piercer holding portion 841 integrally includes a columnar shaftportion 842 and a flange portion 843 formed to spread the outer diameteron a lower end of the shaft portion 842. The piercer holding portion 841is so formed that the entrance portion 212 of the reagent container 200and a lower surface 843 a of the piercer holding portion 841 (flangeportion 843) come into contact with each other to stop advancement ofthe piercer 840 into the regent container 200 when the piercer 840enters the reagent container 200 through the entrance portion 212(opening 212 a). Thus, the piercer 840 is arranged on a lowered positionQ13. At this time, the entrance portion 212 of the reagent container 200and the lower surface 843 a of the piercer holding portion 841 (flangeportion 843) come into contact with each other, whereby the opening 212a is lidded.

As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, an upper end portion of the shaft portion842 protruding upward (arrow Z1 direction) from a mounting portion 851of the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850 is locked by a stopper 844(see FIG. 22), whereby the piercer holding portion 841 is mounted on themounting portion 851 to be suspended. Thus, the piercer holding portion841 is formed to be relatively movable in an upper direction (Z1direction) where the piercer 840 retreats from the reagent container 200with respect to the mounting portion 851 of the piercer raising/loweringmechanism 850.

A spring member 845 consisting of a helical compression spring isprovided on the outer periphery of the shaft portion 842 of the piercerholding portion 841. The spring member 845 is so provided that the lowerend comes into contact with the upper surface of the flange portion 843and the upper end comes into contact with the lower surface of themounting portion 851 of the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850.Therefore, the spring member 845 is formed to urge the piercer holdingportion 841 in a lower direction (Z2 direction) where the piercer 840enters the reagent container 200 with respect to the mounting portion851 of the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850. As shown in FIG. 19,the spring member 845 has a spring length L3 in an uncompressed state.

As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850is formed to hold the cover 830 and to hold the piercer 840 through thepiercer holding portion 841 mounted on the mounting portion 851. Asshown in FIG. 19, the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850 includesthree guide rollers 852, 853 and 854 each having a V-shaped groove (seeFIG. 22). The guide rollers 852 and 853 engage with a guide portion 813on a front side (arrow Y1 direction side) of the chassis 810 in avertically movable manner. The guide roller 854 engages with a guideportion 814 on an inner back side (arrow Y2 direction side) of thechassis 810 in a vertically movable manner. Thus, the piercerraising/lowering mechanism 850 is formed to integrally move the piercer840 in the vertical direction (direction Z) in association withopening/closing (raising/lowering) of the cover 830.

The guide roller 854 is mounted on the piercer raising/loweringmechanism 850 through a plate spring 855, and engages with the guideportion 814 in a state urged frontward (arrow Y1 direction side) by theplate spring 855. A projectional portion having a first incliningportion 814 a and a second inclining portion 814 b is formed on a lowerportion of the guide portion 814. The guide roller 854 urged frontward(arrow Y1 direction side) through the plate spring 855 moves to get overthe first inclining portion 814 a at the time of lowering. In a casewhere the user closes the cover 830, therefore, the user feelsresistance when the guide roller 854 gets over the first incliningportion 814 a and is capable of reliably recognizing that he/she haspushed down the cover 830 up to the lowered position Q12. On the otherhand, the guide roller 854 must get over the second inclining portion814 b in order to raise the cover 830, and hence the second incliningportion 814 b has a function of fixing the position of the cover 830(piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850) to the lowered position Q12 ina case where the cover 830 is arranged on the lowered position Q12.

As shown in FIG. 25, the entrance portion 212 of the reagent container200 and the lower surface 843 a of the flange portion 843 of the piercerholding portion 841 come into contact with each other before the cover830 reaches the lowered position Q12, and the piercer 840 is arranged onthe lowered position Q13. From the time when the piercer 840 has beenarranged on the lowered position Q13 up to the time when the cover 830reaches the lowered position Q12 (see FIG. 20), therefore, the mountingportion 851 lowers following the lowering of the cover 830 (piercerraising/lowering mechanism 850), thereby operating to compress thespring member 845 of the piercer holding portion 841. Therefore, thespring member 845 of the piercer holding portion 841 is compressed to aspring length L4 in the state where the cover 830 is arranged on thelowered position Q12. Thus, the piercer holding portion 841 is so formedthat the spring member 845 presses the guide roller 854 of the piercerraising/lowering mechanism 850 against the second inclining portion 814b through the mounting portion 851 and the spring member 845 presses thepiercer holding portion 841 against the reagent container 200 throughthe flange portion 843. The piercer holding portion 841 is so formed inthis manner that the piercer holding portion 841 and the reagentcontainer 200 can be reliably brought into contact with each other dueto repulsion of the spring member 845 of the piercer holding portion 841even if the lowered position Q12 (position of the second incliningportion 814 b) for the cover 830 slightly deviates upward or downwarddue to a production error or the like, thereby preventing the positionof the piercer 840 with respect to the reagent container 200 fromdispersing every holder portion (800 a to 800 e).

According to the second embodiment, the roller 856 vertically movingintegrally with the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850 (cover 830)is provided on a lower portion of an inner back side (arrow Y2 directionside) of the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850. In a case where thecover 830 is located on the raised position P12, the roller 856 comesinto contact with the contact portion 824 of the support portion 821, asshown in FIG. 19. Thus, the roller 856 is formed to limit movement ofthe contact portion 824 (support portion 821) urged by the spring member827 to move to the set position Q11. In a case where the cover 830 islocated on the lowered position Q12, the roller 856 is formed to allowthe support portion 821 to move to the set position Q11, as shown inFIG. 20. Thus, the second embodiment is so formed that both of movementof the piercer 840 by the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850 andmovement of the support portion 821 by the rotation mechanism 825(spring member 827) are parallelly performed in association withopening/closing (raising/lowering) of the cover 830.

A detection fragment 857 is provided on an upper portion of the innerback side (arrow Y2 direction side) of the piercer raising/loweringmechanism 850. This detection fragment 857 is formed to detect that thecover 830 has been arranged on the lowered position Q12 (the piercer 840has been arranged on the lowered position Q13) by blocking an opticalsensor (photointerrupter) 815 provided on the chassis 810, as shown inFIG. 20. A piercer regulation portion 858 so provided that the piercer840 passes through an opening is arranged above the mounting portion851. The piercer regulation portion 858 has a function of inhibiting thepiercer 840 (piercer holding portion 841) from moving to rotate on themounting portion 851. FIG. 22 illustrates the piercer regulation portion858 with one-dot chain lines.

An RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) antenna portion 816 (seeone-dot chain lines) for performing near field communication is providedon a position in the vicinity of the first acceptance portion 621outside the chassis 810. According to the second embodiment, an RFID tag860 is stuck to an outer side surface of the first storage portion 210of the reagent container 200. Reagent information such as the type, thelot number, the expiration date etc. of the reagent stored in thereagent container 200, for example, is recorded on this RFID tag 860.The RFID tag 860 is so formed that, when the reagent container 200 isset on the support portion 821, the RFID tag 860 of the reagentcontainer 200 and the RFID antenna portion 816 (see the one-dot chainlines) perform near field communication so that the reagent informationis read. The read reagent information is acquired by a control device 5(see FIG. 1), and an error message is displayed on a display portion 52(see FIG. 1) in a case where an erroneous reagent (reagent container200) is set or the like.

A set operation for the reagent container 200 onto the reagent containerholder 800 (holder portion 800 a) of each of a first measurement unit 3and a second measurement unit 2 (see FIG. 1) according to the secondembodiment is now described with reference to FIGS. 1, 6 and 19 to 25.The set operation is similar in the reagent containers 200 and 300, andhence only the set operation for the reagent container 200 is described,and the set operation for the reagent container 300 is omitted.Similarly, only the set operation for the reagent container 200 onto theholder portion 800 a is described, and description is omitted as to setoperations onto the remaining holder portions 800 b to 800 e.

First, the user opens a front surface cover 24 a (see FIG. 1), and movesthe cover 830 to the raised position P12 (see FIG. 19) (opens the cover830) by grasping the cover grasp portion 833. At this time, the piercer840 and the roller 856 of the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850move upward following upward movement of the cover 830 and the roller856 comes into contact with the contact portion 824 on the bent portion824 a, as shown in FIG. 23. At this time, the piercer 840 retreats outof (upwardly from) the reagent container 200. The support portion 821having the contact portion 824 is urged by the spring member 827, andhence the roller 856 rises to push the contact portion 824 aside towardthe arrow Y1 direction side. Thus, at the same time when the piercer 840rises toward the raised position P13 in association with the raising ofthe cover 830, the support portion 821 is parallelly rotated toward thearrow Y1 direction side and starts moving to the placed position P11.

When continuing the raising of the cover 830, the roller 856 comes intocontact with the contact portion 824 on the bent portion 824 b, as shownin FIG. 24. The angle θ4 of the bent portion 824 b is larger than theangle θ3 of the bent portion 824 a, and hence movement (rotation angle)of the support portion 821 following the raising of the cover 830increases while upthrust force necessary for raising the cover 830(roller 856) increases following this bent portion 824 b. Thus, it ispossible to suppress abrupt increase of upthrust force (i.e. resistancereceived by the user) necessary when the user pushes up the cover 830 byproviding the bent portions 824 a and 824 b on the two places andreducing the angle in the bent portion 824 a (angle θ3) below the bentportion 824 b (angle θ4). Further, movement of the overall cover 830(roller 856) necessary for increasing the movement (rotation angle) ofthe support portion 821 and moving (rotating) the support portion 821 tothe set position Q11 and the placed position P11 can be inhibited fromincreasing by enlarging the angle on the bent portion 824 b (angle θ4),whereby it is possible to inhibit the reagent container holder 800 fromsize increase.

When continuing the raising past the bent portion 824 b, the cover 830is arranged on the raised position P12 and the reagent container holdingportion 820 is opened while the piercer 840 is arranged on the raisedposition P13, as shown in FIG. 19. Further, the roller 856 of thepiercer raising/lowering mechanism 850 comes into contact with a forwardend portion of the contact portion 824, whereby rotation of the supportportion 821 toward the arrow Y2 direction side with the spring member827 is limited, and the support portion 821 is held on the placedposition P11.

Then, the user places the reagent container 200 on the support portion821 (exchanges an old reagent container 200 for a new reagent container200). At this time, the reagent information recorded on the RFID tag 860stuck to the reagent container 200 is read by the control device 5 (seeFIG. 1) through the RFID antenna portion 816 (see the one-dot chainlines) set outside the chassis 810. In a case where an erroneous reagent(reagent container 200) is set, an error message is displayed on thedisplay portion 52 (see FIG. 1), and it is posted to the user that thisis an erroneous reagent.

The shapes of the first acceptance portion 621 and the guide members 627(see FIG. 6) are similar to those of the aforementioned firstembodiment, and hence the whole of both side surfaces 214 of the firststorage portion 210 is guided by a pair of first guide portions 627 areflecting the shape of the first storage portion 210 also in the secondembodiment, whereby the finger(s) of the user is prevented from enteringan inner back side of the reagent container holding portion 62 from aspace between the reagent container 200 (respective side surfaces of thefirst storage portion 210 and the second storage portion 220) and theguide members 627 (first guide portions 627 a and second guide portions627 c) in insertion of the reagent container 200. Thus, the finger(s) ofthe user is prevented from touching the piercer 840.

Then, the user grasps the cover grasp portion 833 and moves (lowers) thecover 830 from the raised position P12 to the lowered position Q12 (seeFIG. 20) (closes the cover 830), as shown in FIG. 19. The piercer 840and the roller 856 of the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850 lowerfollowing this. The support portion 821 is urged toward the arrow Y2direction side by the spring member 827, whereby the support portion 821gradually rotates toward the arrow Y2 direction side following thelowering of the roller 856 in the state where the roller 856 and thecontact portion 824 are in contact with each other. When the roller 856lowers up to the bent portion 824 a as shown in FIG. 23, the front sideportion 822 of the support portion 821 comes into contact with thelocking portion 812. Thus, the support portion 821 is arranged on theset position Q11, while the rotation of the support portion 821 isstopped by the locking portion 812. At this time, the piercer 840 isarranged on a position (position immediately in front of the entranceportion 212 (opening 212 a)) above the entrance portion 212 (opening 212a) of the reagent container 200 and in the vicinity of the entranceportion 212 (opening 212 a). When the support portion 821 is arranged onthe set position Q11, the front side portion 822 comes into contact withthe locking portion 812 and is locked, whereby only the piercer 840moves following the lowering of the cover 830 after the roller 856passes through the bent portion 824 a.

When the user continuously lowers the cover 830, the piercer 840 passesthrough a sealing member 213 sealing the entrance portion 212 (opening212 a) of the reagent container 200 and enters the reagent container 200through the entrance portion 212 (opening 212 a). While the cover 830reaches the lowered position Q12, the guide roller 854 of the piercerraising/lowering mechanism 850 gets over the first inclining portion 814a. The user feels resistance when the guide roller 854 gets over thefirst inclining portion 814 a and can reliably recognize that he/she haspushed down the cover 830 up to a prescribed position.

As shown in FIG. 25, the lower surface of the piercer holding portion841 and the upper end surface of the entrance portion 212 of the reagentcontainer 200 come into contact with each other in a state where theguide roller 854 is positioned between the first inclining portion 814 aand the second inclining portion 814 b, and the lowering of the piercer840 stops. Therefore, the piercer 840 is arranged on the loweredposition Q13 at this point of time. After the piercer 840 is arranged onthe lowered position Q13, the piercer holding portion 841 movesrelatively upward (direction where the piercer 840 retreats) withrespect to the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850 when the cover 830(piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850) further lowers. In other words,the piercer holding portion 841 holds the position thereof to protrudeupward from the mounting portion 851 with respect to the lowering of thecover 830 (piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850). After the piercer840 is arranged on the lowered position Q13, therefore, only the cover830 (piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850) lowers while the supportportion 821 and the piercer 840 stop.

When the guide roller 854 passes through the second inclining portion814 b, the spring member 845 of the piercer holding portion 841 iscompressed following the lowering of the piercer raising/loweringmechanism 850 (mounting portion 851). Urging force acts on the piercerraising/lowering mechanism 850 upward (arrow Z1 direction) due torepulsion of this spring member 845, whereby the guide roller 854 stopson a position meshing with the second inclining portion 814 b. Thus, thecover 830 is held on the lowered position Q12 in the state where thespring member 845 is compressed up to the spring length L4, as shown inFIG. 20. At this time, the detection fragment 857 of the piercerraising/lowering mechanism 850 blocks the sensor 815, and it is detectedthat the cover 830 has been closed (has been arranged on the loweredposition Q12). On the basis of this detection result, it becomespossible to suck the reagent in the reagent container 200 through thepiercer 840.

In this state, it becomes possible for the user to visually recognizethe label 250 of the reagent container 200 from the window portion 831of the cover 830, whereby it becomes possible for the user to confirmfrom the label 832 stuck to the cover 830 and the label 250 of thereagent container 200 whether or not a correct reagent container 200 isset and what reagent (reagent container 200) provided with which label250 may be prepared in exchange of the reagent.

Thus, the set operation for the reagent container 200 onto the reagentcontainer holder 800 (holder portion 800 a) terminates.

According to the second embodiment, as hereinabove described, therotation mechanism 825 is formed to move the support portion 821 inassociation with movement of the cover 830 so that the support portion821 is located on the placed position P11 when moving the cover 830 tothe raised position P12 and the support portion 821 is located on theset position Q11 when moving the cover 830 to the lowered position Q12.The rotation mechanism 825 is so formed in this manner that movement ofthe cover 830 and movement of the support portion 821 interlock witheach other, whereby the user can arrange the reagent container 200 onthe set position Q11 where the piercer 840 is enterable by simply movingthe cover 830 to the lowered position Q12 after setting the reagentcontainer 200 on the support portion 821. Thus, setting or withdrawal ofthe reagent container 200 can be easily performed without complicatingthe device structure. Further, the user may not touch the reagentcontainer 200 in order to arrange the reagent container 200 on the setposition Q11 where the piercer 840 is enterable, whereby the finger(s)of the user can more reliably avoid touching the piercer 840.

According to the second embodiment, as hereinabove described, the springmember 827 urging the support portion 821 to move to the set positionQ11 is provided, whereby the support portion 821 can be easily movedfrom the placed position P11 to the set position Q11.

According to the second embodiment, as hereinabove described, thecontact portion 824 and the roller 856 are so provided that the supportportion 821 can be prevented from being erroneously moved, whereby thefinger(s) of the user can more reliably avoid touching the piercer 840.

According to the second embodiment, as hereinabove described, the roller856 moving in association with opening/closing of the cover 830 and thecontact portion 824 moving in association with movement of the supportportion 821 are provided and the roller 856 and the contact portion 824so come into contact with each other that movement of the contactportion 824 is limited and allowed, whereby movement of the supportportion 821 from the placed position P11 to the set position Q11 islimited and allowed. Thus, limitation and allowance of movement of thesupport portion 821 from the placed position P11 to the set position Q11can be easily interlocked with opening/closing of the cover 830 byemploying the roller 856 and the contact portion 824.

According to the second embodiment, as hereinabove described, the covergrasp portion 833 is provided on the front surface side (arrow Y1direction side) of the cover 830, whereby the user can move the cover830 by holding the cover grasp portion 833 arranged on the front surfaceside of the cover 830. Thus, the finger(s) of the user can more reliablyavoid touching the piercer 840, while movement of the cover 830 can beeasily performed.

According to the second embodiment, as hereinabove described, thepiercer raising/lowering mechanism 850 is formed to move the piercer 840in association with movement (opening/closing) of the cover 830 whileboth of movement of the piercer 840 with the piercer raising/loweringmechanism 850 and movement of the support portion 821 with the rotationmechanism 825 are parallelly performed in association with movement(opening/closing) of the cover 830. When forming the piercerraising/lowering mechanism 850 in this manner, the user can performmovement of the support portion 821 from the placed position P11 to theset position Q11 and advancement of the piercer 840 into the reagentcontainer 200 (movement of the piercer 840 from the raised position P13to the lowered position Q13) by simply closing the cover 830 aftermoving the cover 830 to the raised position P12 and setting the reagentcontainer 200 on the support portion 821. In a case of moving thepiercer 840 after moving the support portion 821 in association withmovement of the cover 830, for example, the distance of movement of thecover 830 from the raised position P12 to the lowered position Q12 mustbe enlarged, and hence the device is increased in size. On the otherhand, the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850 is so formed that bothof movement of the piercer 840 and movement of the support portion 821are parallelly performed in association with movement (opening/closing)of the cover 830 so that the distance of movement of the cover 830 fromthe raised position P12 to the lowered position Q12 can be reduced,whereby the device can be inhibited from size increase.

According to the second embodiment, as hereinabove described, thepiercer holding portion 841 is formed to stop advancement of the piercer840 into the reagent container 200 by coming into contact with theentrance portion 212 of the reagent container 200 when the piercer 840enters the reagent container 200 through the entrance portion 212.Further, the piercer holding portion 841 is formed to be relativelymovable in an upper direction (arrow Z1 direction) retreating thepiercer 840 out of the reagent container 200 with respect to the piercerraising/lowering mechanism 850 (mounting portion 851) following movementof the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850 to the side of the reagentcontainer 200 after coming into contact with the entrance portion 212 ofthe reagent container 200. When forming the piercer holding portion 841in this manner, the piercer holding portion 841 relatively moves withrespect to the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850 in the state wherethe piercer holding portion 841 is in contact with the upper end surfaceof the entrance portion 212 of the reagent container 200 also in a caseof moving the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850 in a direction(arrow Z2 direction) for further advancing the piercer 840 after thepiercer holding portion 841 comes into contact with the upper endsurface of the entrance portion 212 of the reagent container 200.Therefore, the piercer 840 can be prevented from further entering thereagent container 200. Thus, the forward end of the piercer 840 can beregularly arranged on a constant position in the reagent container 200without separately providing a sensor or the like in order to performpositioning of the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850.

According to the second embodiment, as hereinabove described, the springmember 845 urging the piercer holding portion 841 in the lower direction(arrow Z2 direction) for advancing the piercer 840 into the reagentcontainer 200 with respect to the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850(mounting portion 851) is provided. When forming the spring member 845in this manner, the spring member 845 urges the piercer holding portion841 in the lower direction (arrow Z2 direction) for advancing thepiercer 840. Therefore, the contact state between the piercer holdingportion 841 and the upper end surface of the entrance portion 212 can bemaintained due to the urging force of the spring member 845 also in acase where the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850 moves in thedirection (arrow Z2 direction) where the piercer 840 enters after thepiercer holding portion 841 comes into contact with the upper endsurface of the entrance portion 212 of the reagent container 200. Thus,the forward end of the piercer 840 can be reliably held on the constantposition in the reagent container 200 with the spring member 845.

According to the second embodiment, as hereinabove described, the cover830 is formed to open the reagent container holding portion 820 on theraised position p12 allowing withdrawal of the reagent container 200 andto close the reagent container holding portion 820 on the loweredposition Q12 preventing withdrawal of the reagent container 200 from thereagent container holding portion 820. When forming the cover 830 inthis manner, movement of the piercer 840 with the piercerraising/lowering mechanism 850 can be interlocked with the cover 830opening and closing the reagent container holding portion 820. Thus, thereagent can be rendered settable (or exchangeable) by retreating thepiercer 840 out of the reagent container 200 when opening the cover 830for setting the reagent container 200, and the piercer 840 can beadvanced into the reagent container 200 by simply closing the cover 830after setting the reagent container 200. Consequently, the user canrender the reagent suckable from inside the reagent container 200 bysimply closing the cover 830 after opening the cover 830 and setting thereagent container 200, whereby the set operation for the reagentcontainer 200 can be simplified.

According to the second embodiment, as hereinabove described, theentrance portion 212 of the reagent container 200 and the lower surface843 a of the piercer holding portion 841 (flange portion 834) come intocontact with each other, whereby the opening 212 a is lidded. Thus, insuch an analysis device that the reagent container 200 is kept being setuntil next reagent exchange in a state where the piercer 840 lowers oncethe reagent container 200 is set, drying of the reagent or contaminationwith foreign matter can be prevented in a simple structure.

The remaining effects of the second embodiment are similar to those ofthe aforementioned first embodiment.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment of the present invention is now described withreference to FIGS. 17, 19 and 26 to 28. In this third embodiment,dedicated reagent container holding portions 920 and 930 are providedfor large-sized reagent containers 200 and small-sized reagentcontainers 300 respectively, dissimilarly to each of the aforementionedfirst and second embodiments so formed that the large-sized reagentcontainers 200 and the small-sized reagent containers 300 are held bythe common reagent container holding portions 62 (820). As to astructure other than the reagent container holding portions 920 and 930,either the structure of the aforementioned first embodiment or thestructure of the aforementioned second embodiment may be employed, andhence description is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 26, a reagent container holder 900 includes two holderportions 900 a and 90 b provided with the reagent container holdingportions 920 dedicated to the large-sized reagent containers 200 andthree holder portions 900 c, 900 d and 900 e provided with the reagentcontainer holding portions 930 dedicated to the small-sized reagentcontainers 300 in the third embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, each reagent container holding portion 920dedicated to each of the large-sized reagent containers 200 has a heightH, and includes a first acceptance portion 621 having a width W11, anintermediate acceptance portion 622 and a second acceptance portion 623,similarly to each reagent container holding portion 62 (820) accordingto each of the aforementioned first and second embodiments. Similarly,the reagent container holding portion 920 includes a pair of guidemembers 627 guiding both side surfaces 214 of a first storage portion210 of each reagent container 200 and leading the same to the firstacceptance portion 621. The guide members 627 have first guide portions627 a, intermediate guide portions 627 b and second guide portions 627c. The pair of guide members 627 (the first acceptance portion 621, theintermediate acceptance portion 622 and the second acceptance portion623) have shapes reflecting the outer shape of the reagent container 200respectively, and are formed to be capable of guiding the whole of bothside surfaces 214 of the first storage portion 210 of the reagentcontainer 200 and both side surfaces of a forward end-side (arrow Y2direction) half of the second storage portion 220.

As shown in FIG. 27, the reagent container holding portion 920 includesa support portion 921 supporting the reagent container 200 and arotation mechanism 922 rotatably supporting the support portion 921. Thesupport portion 921 is a platelike member integrally having a front sideportion 921 a coming into contact with a front surface of the reagentcontainer 200 (forward end surface of the first storage portion 210), alower side portion 921 b coming into contact with the lower surface ofthe reagent container 200, an extensional portion 921 c extending fromthe lower side portion 921 b toward a front side (rear end side of thesecond storage portion 220, an arrow Y1 direction) and a rear endportion 921 d provided on an end portion of the extensional portion 921c. The support portion 921 may be provided with a contact portionsimilarly to the support portion 821 (see FIG. 19) of the aforementionedsecond embodiment, and may be so formed that the contact portion and aroller come into contact with each other so that movement of the supportportion 921 is limited or allowed.

As shown in FIG. 26, the extensional portion 921 c extending from thelower side portion 921 b is formed on a position deviating toward oneside (arrow X1 direction side) in the width direction of the supportportion 921, and formed to linearly extend in the arrow Y1 direction.The rear end portion 921 d is a portion where the platelike member(support portion 921) is bent upward on the forward end (end portion onthe arrow Y1 direction side) of the extensional portion 921 c. As shownin FIG. 27, the length of the extensional portion 921 c in a direction Ycorresponds to the length of the reagent container 200 in thelongitudinal direction, and the support portion 921 is so formed thatthe rear end portion 921 d functions as a positioning portion for thereagent container 200 when setting the reagent container 200 on thesupport portion 921. Thus, it becomes easy for the user to set thereagent container 200 on a constant position on the support portion 921(lower side portion 921 b). In a case where the user grasps the rear endportion (second storage portion 220) of the reagent container 200 tohold the same in the vertical direction when setting the reagentcontainer 200, the extensional portion 921 c is arranged to deviate toone side (arrow X1 direction side) of the support portion 921 and hencethe extensional portion 921 c and the rear end portion 921 d do nothinder the setting of the reagent container 200.

The remaining structure of the reagent container holding portion 920 issimilar to that of the reagent container holding portion 62 in theaforementioned first embodiment or the reagent container holding portion820 in the second embodiment, and hence description is omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 26 and 28, each reagent container holding portion 930dedicated to each of the small-sized reagent containers 300 has theheight H, and includes a first acceptance portion 931 having the widthW11. The first acceptance portion 931 is capable of accepting a firststorage portion 310 of each reagent container 300, and has the width(width W11, 10 mm, for example) inhibiting entrance of the finger(s) ofthe user. The first acceptance portion 931 is arranged on the innermostside (arrow Y2 direction side) of the reagent container holding portion930, and the reagent container 300 is inserted from the side of anentrance portion 312 of the first storage portion 310 toward an innerback side of the reagent container holding portion 930. Therefore, thereagent container holding portion 930 is formed to hold the reagentcontainer 300 in a state so inserted that the entrance portion 312 ofthe reagent container 300 is on the innermost side.

Further, the reagent container holding portion 930 includes a pair ofguide members 932 guiding both side surfaces 314 of the first storageportion 310 of the reagent container 300 and leading the same to thefirst acceptance portion 931. The pair of guide members 932 have firstguide portions 932 a guiding the first storage portion 310 of thereagent container 300 to the first acceptance portion 931 respectively.The pair of guide members 932 are formed by parts (both inner sidesurfaces) of a chassis 901 of the holder portion 900 c (900 d and 900 e)provided with the reagent container holding portion 930, and theaforementioned first acceptance portion 931 is formed by a space betweenthe pair of first guide portions 932 a. A bent portion 901 a spreadingoutside in the width direction (direction X) of the reagent containerholding portion 930 is formed on a front-side (arrow Y1 direction-side)end portion of the guide member 932 (chassis 901).

As shown in FIGS. 26 and 28, the pair of guide members 932 have theheight H substantially equal to a height H1 (see FIG. 17) of both sidesurfaces 314 of the first storage portion 310 of the reagent container300 respectively, and are formed to be capable of guiding both sidesurfaces 314 of the first storage portion 310 of the reagent container300 from lower ends up to upper ends. Further, the pair of guide members932 have planar shapes reflecting the outer shape of the first storageportion 310 respectively, and are formed to be capable of guiding thewhole of both side surfaces 314 of the first storage portion 310 of thereagent container 300. Therefore, the width W11 of the first acceptanceportion 931 is equal to the width of the space between the first guideportions 932 a.

As shown in FIG. 28, the reagent container holding portion 930 includesa support portion 933 supporting the reagent container 300 and arotation mechanism 934 rotatably supporting the support portion 933. Thesupport portion 933 is a platelike member integrally having a front sideportion 933 a coming into contact with the front surface of the reagentcontainer 300 (forward end surface of the first storage portion 310), alower side portion 933 b coming into contact with the lower surface ofthe reagent container 300, a rear end portion 933 c provided on an endportion on a front side of the lower side portion 933 b (rear end sideof the second storage portion 320, an arrow Y1 direction) and a pair ofupright portions 933 d provided on both side portions of a front-sideend portion of the lower side portion 933 b. The support portion 933 maybe provided with a contact portion similarly to the support portion 821(see FIG. 19) of the aforementioned second embodiment, and may be soformed that the contact portion and a roller come into contact with eachother and movement of the support portion 933 is limited or allowed.

As shown in FIG. 26, the rear end portion 933 c is a portion where theplatelike member (support portion 933) is bent upward on the forward endof the lower side portion 933 b (end portion on the arrow Y1 directionside). The length of the lower side portion 933 b in the direction Ycorresponds to the length of the reagent container 300 in thelongitudinal direction, and the support portion 933 is so formed thatthe rear end portion 933 c functions as a positioning portion for thereagent container 300 when setting the reagent container 300 on thesupport portion 933. Thus, it becomes easy for the user to set thereagent container 300 on a constant position on the support portion 933(lower side portion 933 b).

The pair of upright portions 933 d are portions where the platelikemember (support portion 933) is bent upward on both side portions of thefront-side end portion of the lower side portion 933 b. As shown in FIG.28, the interval between the pair of upright portions 933 d issubstantially equal to the interval (width W11 of the first acceptanceportion 931) between the pair of guide members 932 (first guide portions932 a), and the pair of upright portions 933 d are formed to be capableof supporting both side surfaces of a rear end portion of the secondstorage portion 320 of the reagent container 300. In other words, thewidth W21 of the second storage portion 320 is small as compared withthe width W22 of the second storage portion 220 of the first reagentcontainer 200, and hence the small-sized reagent container 300 isinferior in stability in the lateral direction (direction X) to thelarge-sized reagent container 200. Therefore, it is possible to stablyhold the reagent container 300 in the reagent container holding portion930 by supporting both side surfaces 314 of the first storage portion310 of the reagent container 300 with the pair of guide members 932(first guide portions 932 a) and supporting the side of the secondstorage portion 320 of the reagent container 300 with the pair ofupright portions 933 d.

As shown in FIG. 26, the bent portion 901 a spreading outside is formedon the front-side (arrow Y1 direction-side) end portion of the guidemember 932 (chassis 901) in the reagent container holding portion 930,and hence the interval (interval in the direction X) to an adjacentreagent container holding portion 930 (reagent container 300) is largedissimilarly to the wide reagent container holding portion 920 whereadjacent reagent container holding portions 920 approach each other.Therefore, the rear end portion 933 c and the upright portions 933 d donot hinder setting of the reagent container 300 when the user sets thereagent container 300 by grasping the rear end portion (second storageportion 320) of the reagent container 300 to hold the same in thehorizontal direction in setting of the reagent container 300.

According to the third embodiment, as hereinabove described, the reagentcontainer holding portions 920 dedicated to the large-sized reagentcontainers 200 and the reagent container holding portions 930 dedicatedto the small-sized reagent containers 300 are provided, and the reagentcontainer holding portions 920 and the reagent container holdingportions 930 have the shapes reflecting the shapes of the reagentcontainers 200 and the reagent containers 300 respectively. Thus, it ispossible to attain simplification of setting of the reagent containers200 and the reagent containers 300 whose shapes are different from eachother and to stably hold the reagent containers 200 and the reagentcontainers 300 on the reagent container holding portions 920 and 930respectively.

The embodiments disclosed this time must be considered as illustrativein all points and not restrictive. The range of the present invention isshown not by the above description of the embodiments but by the scopeof claims for patent, and all modifications within the meaning and rangeequivalent to the scope of claims for patent are further included.

For example, while the example of providing the two measurement units ofthe first measurement unit and the second measurement unit has beenshown as an example of the analysis device in each of the aforementionedfirst to third embodiments, the present invention is not restricted tothis. The number of measurement units may be one or at least three.

While the blood analysis system including the two measurement units, thesample transport device and the control device has been shown in each ofthe aforementioned first to third embodiments, the present invention isnot restricted to this. The present invention may be applied to a simplemeasurement unit without constituting the aforementioned analysissystem.

While the example of providing the five reagent container holdingportions on each reagent container holder has been shown in each of theaforementioned first to third embodiments, the present invention is notrestricted to this. One to four reagent container holding portions maybe provided, or at least six reagent container holding portions may beprovided. The reagent container holding portions may be provided by anumber responsive to the types or the like of the reagents used in theanalysis device.

While the example of forming the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 65to move (raise/lower) the piercer 64 and the cover 63 in associationwith each other has been shown in the aforementioned first embodiment,the present invention is not restricted to this. The piercerraising/lowering mechanism may simply move the piercer inside andoutside the reagent container without interlocking the same with thecover.

While the example of forming the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850to interlock both of movement (raising/lowering) of the piercer 840 withthe piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850 and movement of the supportportion 821 with the rotation mechanism 825 with opening/closing(raising/lowering) of the cover 830 has been shown in the aforementionedsecond embodiment, the present invention is not restricted to this. Thepresent invention may be formed to interlock either one of movement(raising/lowering) of the piercer 840 and movement of the supportportion 821 with opening/closing (raising/lowering) of the cover 830.For example, the present invention may be formed to interlock movementof the support portion with the rotation mechanism (support portionmoving mechanism) and opening/closing of the cover and not to interlockmovement of the piercer with the piercer raising/lowering mechanism withopening/closing of the cover. At this time, movement of the piercer withthe piercer raising/lowering mechanism may become possible only in astate where the cover is closed (state where the support portion isarranged on the set position).

While the example of providing the cover 63 (830) for opening/closingthe reagent container holding portion 62 (820) on each of the holderportions 60 a (800 a) to 60 e (800 e) has been shown in each of theaforementioned first and second embodiments, the present invention isnot restricted to this. According to the present invention, a withdrawalprevention member that moves to a withdrawal position opening thereagent container holding portion and to a withdrawal preventionposition partially covering the reagent container holding portion andinhibiting introduction/withdrawal of the reagent container may beprovided without completely closing (covering) the reagent containerholding portion. Therefore, the withdrawal prevention member may be apalisade member or a columnar member capable of partially covering thereagent container holding portion, or may be an engaging member allowingor inhibiting introduction/withdrawal of the reagent container byengaging with the reagent container without covering the reagentcontainer holding portion, for example. Further, the withdrawalprevention member may be formed to collectively open/close a pluralityof reagent container holding portions with one cover.

While the example of providing the pair of guide members on the reagentcontainer holding portion 62 (820, 830 and 930) has been shown in eachof the aforementioned first to third embodiments, the present inventionis not restricted to this. According to the present invention, a singleguide member guiding both side surfaces of the first storage portion ofthe reagent container may be provided without providing the pair ofguide members. Further, guide members may be constituted of at leastthree members.

While the example of forming the guide members for the reagent containerholding portion by parts (both inner side surfaces) of the chassis hasbeen shown in each of the aforementioned first to third embodiments, thepresent invention is not restricted to this. According to the presentinvention, guide members may be provided as members separate from thechassis.

While the example of forming the reagent container 200 (300) so that theinner bottom surface 200 a (300 a) is unparallel to the outer uppersurface 200 b (300 b) has been shown in the aforementioned firstembodiment, the present invention is not restricted to this. Accordingto the present invention, the inner bottom surface and the outer uppersurface of the reagent container may be formed to be parallel to eachother. Further, the inclining surface 200 d (300 d) may not be providedon the outer bottom surface of the reagent container 200 (300). In otherwords, the outer bottom surface and the outer upper surface of thereagent container may be formed to be parallel to each other, while theinner bottom surface of the reagent container may be formed to beunparallel to the outer upper surface of the reagent container (so thatonly the inner surface inclines).

While the example of forming the second storage portion 220 of thereagent container 200 by the first portion 222 whose width enlarges asseparating from the first storage portion 210 and the second portion 223having the constant width W22 has been shown in the aforementioned firstembodiment, the present invention is not restricted to this. Accordingto the present invention, the second storage portion may be formed onlyby the first portion, and may be so formed that the width continuouslyenlarges up to the rear end portion as separating from the first storageportion.

While the example of employing two types of reagent containers of thelarge-sized reagent container 200 having the volume of about 100 mL andthe small-sized reagent container 300 having the volume of about 20 mLhas been shown in the aforementioned first embodiment, the presentinvention is not restricted to this. According to the present invention,the reagent container(s) may be only one type, or may be at least threetypes. Further, the volumes of the reagent containers are not restrictedto 100 mL and 20 mL either, but may be set to volumes responsive to thequantities of used reagents, frequencies etc.

While the example of forming the contact portion 824 to be bent on thetwo places of the bent portion 824 a and the bent portion 824 b has beenshown in the aforementioned second embodiment, the present invention isnot restricted to this. According to the present invention, the contactportion may have a smooth curved shape. Further, the contact portion maybe provided with bent portion(s) on one place or at least three places.

While the example of integrally forming the contact portion 824 toextend from the upper end of the front side portion 822 of the supportportion 821 has been shown in the aforementioned second embodiment, thepresent invention is not restricted to this. According to the presentinvention, the contact portion may be provided as a body different fromthe support portion (front side portion). In this case, the presentinvention may be so formed that the contact portion moves in associationwith the support portion also in the case where the contact portion isprovided as the body different from the support portion.

While the example of forming the contact portion 824 and the roller 856to limit and allow movement of the support portion 821 from the placedposition P11 to the set position Q11 in association with opening/closingof the cover 830 has been shown in the aforementioned second embodiment,the present invention is not restricted to this. According to thepresent invention, a limitation portion other than the contact portionand the roller may be provided.

While such an example that the spring member 827 consisting of thehelical compression spring is provided and the support portion 821 isurged to move to the set position Q11 has been shown in theaforementioned second embodiment, the present invention is notrestricted to this. For example, a helical torsion coil spring (torsionspring) or a plate spring may be provided, so that the support portion821 is urged by the same to move to the set position Q11.

While such an example that the spring member 845 urging the piercerholding portion 841 in the lower direction (Z2 direction) where thepiercer 840 enters the reagent container 200 is provided has been shownin the aforementioned second embodiment, the present invention is notrestricted to this. According to the present invention, the springmember 845 may not be provided.

While such an example that the piercer holding portion 841 holding thepiercer 840 is provided has been shown in the aforementioned secondembodiment, the present invention is not restricted to this. Accordingto the present invention, the piercer holding portion 841 may not beprovided, but the piercer 840 may be directly fixed to the mountingportion 851 of the piercer raising/lowering mechanism 850.

While the example of setting 10 mm as the width W11 which is such awidth that the finger(s) of the user hardly enters has been shown ineach of the aforementioned first to third embodiments, the presentinvention is not restricted to this. The width W11 may simply be about 5mm to 20 mm, and is preferably 8 mm to 18 mm.

While the example of providing the guide members guiding both sidesurfaces of the first storage portion on the reagent container holdingportion has been shown in each of the aforementioned first to thirdembodiments, the present invention is not restricted to this. Accordingto the present invention, no guide members may be provided. Further, theguide members may be formed to guide only one side surface of the firststorage portion, and the guide members may be formed to guide portionsother than the first storage portion of the reagent container.

While such an example that the guide members 627 (932) have the shapesreflecting at least the shape of the first storage portion 210 (310) ofthe reagent container 200 (300) has been shown in each of theaforementioned first to third embodiments, the present invention is notrestricted to this. According to the present invention, the guidemembers may not reflect the shape of the first storage portion of thereagent container. Therefore, the guide members may be formed to guideonly parts of both side surfaces of the first storage portion withoutguiding the whole of both side surfaces of the first storage portion ofthe reagent container.

While such an example that the guide members 627 (932) are provided withthe height H substantially equal to the height H1 of the first storageportion 210 (310) of the reagent container 200 (300) has been shown ineach of the aforementioned first to third embodiments, the presentinvention is not restricted to this. According to the present invention,the guide members may be provided with a height dimension different fromthe height of the first storage portion of the reagent container.Therefore, the guide members may be formed to guide only centralportions (central portions in the height direction) of both sidesurfaces of the first storage portion, for example, without guiding bothside surfaces of the first storage portion from the upper ends up to thelower ends.

While the present invention has been applied to the hemocytometerperforming flow cytometry in each of the aforementioned first to thirdembodiments, the present invention is not restricted to this. Accordingto the present invention, it may be a urine particle analyzer performingflow cytometry. Such an analysis device performing flow cytometryclassifies/counts particles by employing a stain solution staining cellssuch as red blood cells.

While it has been assumed that the color of the reagent container isblack in each of the aforementioned first to third embodiments, thepresent invention is not restricted to this. According to the presentinvention, external advancement of light into the reagent container maysimply be prevented. For example, the color of the reagent container maybe brown. Further, the reagent container may be surface-treated with amaterial transmitting no light, in order to prevent external advancementof light into the reagent container.

What is claimed is:
 1. An analysis device comprising: a reagent container holding portion configured to hold a reagent container inside, wherein the reagent container holding portion comprises an entrance through which the reagent container is insertable into and removable from the reagent container holding portion; a suction pipe adapted to aspirate a reagent from the reagent container held by the reagent container holding portion; a suction pipe moving mechanism operable to advance the suction pipe into the reagent container held by the reagent container holding portion and retreat the suction pipe out of the reagent container; and a cover adapted to move between a withdrawal position where the cover is positioned to uncover the entrance of the reagent container holding portion to enable the reagent container to be inserted into or removed from the reagent container holding portion through the entrance and a withdrawal prevention position where the cover is positioned to cover the entrance of the reagent container holding portion to prevent the reagent container inside the reagent container holding portion from being removed from the reagent container holding portion, wherein the cover is operably connected to the suction pipe moving mechanism so that a movement of the cover from the withdrawal position to the withdrawal prevention position will cause the suction pipe moving mechanism to move, along with the suction pipe, towards the reagent container and advance the suction pipe into the regent container, and a movement of the cover from the withdrawal prevention position to the withdrawal position will cause the suction pipe moving mechanism to retreat the suction pipe out of the reagent container and move, along with the suction pipe, away from the reagent container.
 2. The analysis device according to claim 1, wherein the reagent container holding portion further includes a support portion configured to support the reagent container placed thereon and a support portion moving mechanism operable to move the support portion between a first position where the support portion is situated so that the reagent container is insertable into and removable from the reagent container holding portion through the entrance and a second position where the support portion is situated to position the reagent container on the support portion so that the suction pipe is enterable into the reagent container.
 3. The analysis device according to claim 2, wherein the cover is operably connected to the support portion moving mechanism so that a movement of the cover from the withdrawal position to the withdrawal prevention position will cause the support portion moving mechanism to move the support portion from the first position to the second position, and a movement of the cover from the withdrawal prevention position to the withdrawal position will cause the support portion moving mechanism to move the support portion from the second position to the first position.
 4. The analysis device according to claim 3, wherein the support portion moving mechanism includes a first urging member operable to urge the support portion towards the second position.
 5. The analysis device according to claim 4, wherein the support portion moving mechanism includes a stopper mechanism operable to hold the support portion at the first position against an urging force of the first urging member.
 6. The analysis device according to claim 5, wherein the stopper mechanism comprises a roller and an extension arm, the roller being operably connected to the suction pipe moving mechanism so that the roller will move along with a movement of the suction pipe, and the extension arm being operably connected to the support portion so that the extension arm will move along with a movement of the support portion, and the extension arm comprises a distal end shaped to engage with the roller to hold the support member at the first position against an urging force of the first urging member when the cover is at the withdrawal position.
 7. The analysis device according to claim 6, wherein the roller is operably connected to the suction pipe moving mechanism so that when the cover starts to move from the withdrawal position towards the withdrawal prevention position, the roller will move along with the cover to release the distal end of the extension arm from the roller, whereby the support portion moves to the second position by operation of the first urging member.
 8. The analysis device according to claim 7, wherein the extension arm comprises a proximal end configured to come in contact with the roller when the support portion is at the second position, and the proximal end of the extension arm is shaped to obliquely contact the roller so that a movement of the cover from the withdrawal prevention position to the withdrawal position will cause the roller to force the extension arm to move the support portion from the second position to the first position against the urging force of the first urging member.
 9. The analysis device according to claim 4, wherein the suction pipe moving mechanism comprises a second urging member one end of which is attached to the suction pipe moving mechanism and the other end of which is attached to the suction pipe so that the second urging member will function to connect the suction pipe moving mechanism and the suction pipe at an adjustable distance between them.
 10. The analysis device according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes a grasp portion arranged on a front surface side of the cover. 